Joan Watkins Hoffsommer

Joan was born in San Mateo, California on February 25, 1928 to Jack Watkins and Nellie O’Farrell Watkins. As the younger sister to her half-brother Terrence Fitzpatrick (d. 1973), Joan developed acting and artistic skills that she shared her whole life. During her high school and college years, she was active in San Mateo regional theatre, including Hillbarn and Peninsula Little Theatre. Her couture modeling led to a job offer with the house of Lilli Ann, where she became a designer of women’s coats and suits. Several of her designs became “cover stories” for top fashion magazines.

Moving to Los Angeles, she was introduced to Kay P. Hoffsommer (d. 2006), whom she married in 1956. Not long after her first child was born, she realized the true holiness and dignity of family life, according to God’s design, so she resigned from the “glamour industry” to become a fulltime wife and mother. She and Kay resided in the Southern California region until 1973, when they moved their family of four children to Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.

By God’s grace, one of Joan’s first decisions upon that move was to initiate the recitation of the rosary after her parish’s daily Mass, where it continues to today. Fifty years later, the blessings from those rosaries upon family, parish, and community are inestimable.

Having raised her four children, Joan returned to painting and exhibited frequently in the region, sometimes even winning a show! She was a signing member of the Baltimore Watercolor Society and the Philadelphia Watercolor Society. But painting was only one aspect of her creativity, for she joyfully brought all those talents to homemaking as well. While some women rejoiced in a keeping a perfectly clean house, Joan delighted in making the world beautiful in little ways. Outside, the abstract designs of the topiary bushes in the front yard were a favorite of both family and neighbors. Inside, original sculptures and paintings were joined by cut flower arrangements on tables and before statues. Her creative designs sprang forth quite naturally, consequently, the kitchen was never very clean! (She got her children to do that).

After her husband of fifty years died in 2006, Joan moved to Buffalo, NY, where she continued her involvements until she moved to the loving community of Mary Queen of Angels in Nashville in 2017 close to her youngest daughter.

Joan died wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to whom she was devoted.

She was fortified with everything the Church has to offer Her departing souls: Confession, Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick), Holy Viaticum, and the Apostolic Blessing, as well as the prayers of family and friends to assist her.

Her final exhortations to her children were to know how much God loves them and to love God with their whole heart. In her last minutes, she spoke of “leaning on the Cross.”

Joan is survived by her four children, Susan (late: Joseph) Vennari of Buffalo, NY, Gail (Ronald) Pekarski of Sarasota, FL, Glenn (Mary Joanne) of Memphis, TN, and Sister Henry Suso, O.P. (Carol) of Nashville, TN, as well as by nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and the staff of Mary Queen of Angels Assisted Living Facility, both of Nashville, TN.

A Traditional funeral Mass, preceded by recitation of the rosary, was offered for Joan on Monday, July 24, 2023 at St. Lawrence Church (110 State Street, Harrisburg, 17101). Joan’s mortal remains will then be laid at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Pennsylvania, to join with those of her late husband, Kay.

A Memorial (Requiem) Mass preceded by the Rosary was at Assumption Catholic Church (Nashville) on Thursday, July 27th, 2023.

A light reception followed in the parish hall immediately following Mass.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Hoffsommer family.