Joann "Jody" Welch

Joann "Jody" Welch was born June 28, 1946 to Lillian and Harry Bazarian, hailing from Danbury, Connecticut. She was the youngest of four children. Her father was a refugee from Armenia, and her mother emigrated from London on the Queen Mary. Jody attended Abbott Tech in Danbury, Connecticut and graduated with a degree in nursing. She spent the next three decades dedicating herself to the care of others. While working at Baptist Hospital she met Richard Welch, M.D., who then became her husband. They founded Digestive Disease Specialist Inc. and continued working side by side for the next fifteen years. After Richard suffered from an unfortunate accident, Jody retired from her professional career and devoted her skills to caring for her loving husband. Richard passed away December 10, 2011. Jody was a loving mother, grandmother, friend, and dog mom to Tiki (aka Beeter or Tiki Tikerson Mayor of Tikiville), her beloved Jack Russell Terrier. Jody was a patriot. She loved her country through and through. Her faith in God was strong. She had many friends at St. Augustine of Canterbury, which is officiated by Father Joe. Jody is preceded in death by her parents and husband, brother, Charles and sister, Mildred. She is survived by her sister, Constance; her nephew, Jim Tilford and lifelong friend and sister of sixty years, Mary Tilford. She was a loving mother to her children, Ron and Heather Natale, Rick and Nancy Natale, Erica and Kent Wyatt; grandchildren, Ronnie and Jasmin Natale, Marston and Kelsey Thompson, Sydney Natale, Sydney Thompson, Brody and Sarah Campbell, Rylee Natale, Ryan Natale, Lindsay Campbell, Nolan Wyatt, Anna Wyatt; and soon to be great grandchild, Daphne Thompson. Jody is loved and honored by her nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. Visitation will be held at Smith & Kernke on North May Monday, March 22, 2021 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The funeral will be Tuesday, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.