Joan Agnes Keegan Gratton

Joan Agnes Keegan Gratton, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed peacefully on September 9, 2021 after a brief illness. Born in Albany, New York June 5th, 1930, Joan was the eldest of 7 children to Charles and Margaret Keegan. She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph, and sons Mark and Scott.

She is survived by her daughter, Joanne Vogel (Lawrence), sons Christopher (Regina), Neil (Michele), and daughter-in-law Jane. Also survived by twelve grandchildren, Austin, Shiloh Gauss, Colin Vogel (Rachel), Gretchen Weldon (Kirk), Jay Vogel, Elizabeth, Jeffrey (Danielle), Katherine, Joseph, Bridget, Samantha, William, and great-grandsons Houston, Corey, Kane, and Kolby, as well as her loving siblings Anne, Margaret, Catherine, Daniel, Tina, John, and Stella, and many nieces and nephews.

Joan’s early years were spent in Albany, attending Vincentian Institute (VI) from the second grade through high school. She loved school and participated in many activities while attending VI. After high school, Joan worked for the New York Telephone Company as a business representative until she met Joe, and married in 1953.

Joe and Joan settled in Silver Spring, MD in 1957. Joan was very active and built a large community of friends through St. Andrews and St. John the Baptist Catholic churches, and golf leagues. A talented vocalist, Joan sang for the church choirs for every parish she attended. She traveled with her choir to Italy and performed for Pope John Paul II. Joan also loved the beach. The family bought a beach house in Bethany Beach, DE, in 1963, the beginning of love relationship with beach living that lasted the rest of her life. Each year, she would spend several weeks at the beach with the family, and often hosting sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews.

Joe and Joan retired to Sunset Beach, NC in 1994. Active members of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, Joan would cantor mass and sing in the choir. She even joined a choral group that would perform at retirement homes and sing the National Anthem at minor league baseball games. Every year they would host all the family for beach time and golf outings, starting a tradition that lasted decades. After the passing of her husband Joseph, Joan stayed in North Carolina another 20 years. She had many close friends in the Sunset Beach community and thoroughly enjoyed life amongst the pines.

Joan was known for her caring ways, beautiful smile, loving heart, and courageous grit. She always held her values of God, family, goodness, and love for others above all. Joan will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with her late husband Joseph at a future date. Friends may call on Saturday, October 23rd at the chapel at Riderwood Village, 3140 Gracefield Rd, Silver Spring, MD, at 10:30am. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am