Later years Joanna Hiffernan

1881 census sheet showing hiffernan living @ 2 thistle grove lane

after , whistler parted, hiffernan helped raise whistler s son, charles james whistler hanson (1870–1935), result of affair parlour maid, louisa fanny hanson. lived hiffernan @ 5 thistle grove late 1880 when whistler away in venice maud franklin, mistress. 1881 english census recorded hiffernan, sister bridget , charles hanson visitors of accountant charles singleton (whom bridget later marry) @ 2 thistle grove.

little known of hiffernan after 1880. woman reported juliette courbet (1831–1915), sister of gustave courbet, in letter of 18 december 1882, beautiful irish girl in nice, sold antiques , pictures courbet. believed hiffernan married man named abbot time after 1881, possibly on continent.

the art collector charles lang freer met hiffernan when pallbearer @ whistler s funeral in 1903 when came forward in heavy mourning pay last respects. fellow art patron louisine havemeyer (1855–1929) later recorded incident heard freer:

raised veil , saw ... thick wavy hair, although streaked grey, knew @ once johanna, johanna of etretat, la belle irlandaise courbet had painted wonderful hair , mirror in hand.... stood long time beside coffin—nearly hour should think.... not being touched feeling showed toward old friend. did maud [franklin] come? [havemeyer] asked. yes answered mr. freer, same afternoon. had come way paris , affected uncovered whistler s face see him. ... [one see, freer mused] real drama of [whistler s] life bound in love of [these] devoted women.