Joan Yale Terry

Our beloved Joanie passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2023. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Herbert Singer and Evelyn Brin Singer. After attending the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and then Northeastern Illinois State University in Chicago (BA with high honors), she began her career journey as a teacher – second grade at Community Consolidated School District 59 in Arlington Heights, Illinois; third grade at Chicago Public School System; pre-school at Daniel Boone Elementary School, University City, Missouri; and part time at Trinity Week-Day School and Jewish Community Center in San Antonio.

Joan obtained further education in master’s degree programs in guidance and counseling at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Trinity University. Subsequently, she volunteered for Child Advocates of San Antonio serving as a representative of the community to advocate for children. Additionally, she worked at South Texas Cataract and Glaucoma Center where she was in charge of public relations community services, writing articles and press releases for a successful ophthalmology practice.

Joan embarked on her true calling by attending St. Mary’s University where she completed her master’s degree in counseling with a specialty in marriage and family therapy. After numerous internships, she worked at Jewish Family Service as a full-time therapist. Thereafter, for over fifteen years, she worked at Hill Country Psychotherapy Associates as a full-time therapist treating adults, adolescents, children, couples and families in a wide variety of therapeutic settings. She cared passionately for her clients.

Joan loved and was devoted to her family and friends. She was genuinely interested in her loved ones’ lives and lived for being around them as much as possible. She planned vacations and dinners well in advance with loving mantras like “how about dinner this weekend with the family?” She was very involved in the activities of her children and grandchildren. Joan was smart, caring, energetic, loyal, generous, and kind. She enjoyed tennis, yoga, her cats, socializing, movies, traveling, board games, reading, and most of all being around her family and friends. She completely adored her husband of 56 years. When asked about Stuart, she would light up with pride, love, and a full smile.

Joan is survived by her two loving children and their spouses, Eric Terry (Jayne), and Kim Winbery (Ben); her two amazing grandsons, Cooper Yale Terry and Max Michael Terry who loved her as “Gam”; her new baby great-grandchild Kalia (Cooper and Karen); her sister Essie Streicher (Rick); and nieces and nephews, Yvette Streicher, Illyse Delp, Wendy Rohr (Steve), Kevin Streicher (Jen), and Garrett Leeman.. She was preceded in death by her husband Stuart Terry, her parents, and her sister Shelly Leeman. She will be greatly missed and long remembered.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your own choosing.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N. Loop1604 E., San Antonio, Texas 78232.

Please click here to view the services of Mrs. Joan Terry.