Joanne Szwed

Joanne Szwed, age 72 passed away Tuesday, April14, 2026, at CVMC in Berlin, Vermont with family and friends by her side. 

Joanne was born on March 14, 1954, in Washington, D.C. where she was raised with two older sisters by her parents, Joseph and Francis Szwed. In her young adult years, she worked for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. where she developed an interest in the sociology of the justice system. She then moved to Vermont and attended Trinity College where she studied psychology and developed her skills as a writer. She enjoyed writing poetry and over the years amassed a body of work.

Joanne went on to work at Washington County Mental Health Services as a case manager/counselor where she established lifelong friendships, and where she met her husband, Paul Sahba. Joanne and Paul were a happy and devoted couple for 36 years (married for 33 years). After Washington County Mental Health Services, Joanne went on to work as a probation officer at Vermont’s Department of Corrections. She ran a supervised visitation center for non-custodial parents.

Despite suffering a rare and life-long muscle wasting disease (glycogen storage disease type IIIa), Joanne’s interests and passions prevailed in a life of art and social justice. Joanne was full of curiosity and determination. She loved life and all it had to offer, always looking for new adventures - like remote camping, canoeing, wildlife, and scenic photography to name a few. She gathered people around her and made friends easily. She brought them together in celebration of life, art and poetry - she created venues for people to gather and share. Regardless of her own struggles, she never failed to reach out to help others cope, find balance, figure out finances, find strength within themselves- all with an air of confidence and optimism. All who knew her cherished her determination to find solutions along with her persistence and tenacity to never give up!!!

While it is true that Joanne was a completely unique individual, she was gifted with the best of her parents, her mother’s strength of will and her father’s undying optimism and can-do spirit. Joanne’s gifts to her husband and to many others were countless.

Joanne was survived by her husband, Paul Sahba, her sister, Kathleen English and Kathleen’s husband Tim and their family, her sister, Marie (Teal) Kogan and her family, her brothers-in-law, Mark Sahba and Todd Sahba and Todd’s wife, Brenda. She was also survived by her beloved nieces, Jessica, Lisa, Katrina, Selina, and their families.

Services to be announced.