Joan Florence McHale

Joan McHale of Montgomery Village, Maryland passed away peacefully a week after celebrating her 94th birthday, with family by her side. She was the loving wife of her husband Jim, mother of five children, grandmother of nine children, great grandmother of seven children and friends and with seemingly everyone.

Born in Locust Valley, NY, she grew up helping her parents by working in their grocery store, Peirano & Figari. She was the youngest child of three born to Aurelia and Silvio. Joan attended Marywood University in Scranton, PA, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. While at college she met her future husband, James “Jim” McHale who was attending University of Scranton and they were married in 1952. They moved to Lewisburg, PA while Jim completed his master’s degree at Bucknell University and then moved again to Washington, DC where Jim graduated from medical school at Georgetown University in 1957. He joined the Navy shortly after becoming a medical doctor where he spent the next 16 years as a physician and Captain in the Navy. While in the Navy they moved across the country from Annapolis to Boston, Boston to San Diego, San Diego to Ann Arbor and finally settling in Montgomery Village where Jim pursued his medical practice, culminating in him becoming a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon.

Playing tennis was Joan’s passion as she loved competing in USTA matches. As she aged, swimming became her daily sport, and she later traded her tennis racket for a ping pong paddle instead. She became a champion ping pong player, winning silver medals for the State of Florida Senior Ping Pong Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Traveling with her friends and family throughout the United States and Europe brought her joy. Joan was an artist at heart, she produced quilts, beautiful notecards, unique floormat cloths and wall art paintings.

A devoted mother to her five children, she supported her son, Jim, with the launch of his optical business, assisted Margy with her business, Aurelia Salon, and helped Nora with her two children when they were born. She attended many of Tom’s sporting matches in swimming, tennis, and football over the years. She particularly enjoyed attending Tom’s professional football games when he played as an offensive lineman in the NFL. Mary was her frequent travel companion, traveling to Italy, Spain, Santa Fe, and other wonderful destinations.

Joan was widowed after 28 years of marriage in 1980. Her parents, siblings, Joseph “Joe” and sister, Maria Luisa “Louise” preceded her in death. Joan is survived by her children, James McHale of Hanover, PA, Mary Rothaus (Jim) of Danville, CA, Nora Huegli (Rick) of Edmonds, WA, and Margaret (Marnie Abramson) of Potomac, MD, and her daughter-in-law, Lisa of Tampa, FL; and was sadly preceded in death by her son Thomas (husband of Lisa).

She will be fondly remembered by her children, nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, family and friends. May she rest in peace, leaving cherished memories in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that charitable donations be made to Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, www.helpfightra.org or to Concussion Legacy Foundation, https://concussionfoundation.org/.