Joan A. Durand

Joan Arlene Durand was born at the old Providence Hospital in Detroit on July 26, 1940 to Joseph and Josephine Davio. She had an unwavering faith in God. A consummate Mother, and homemaker, tirelessly nurturing her family though Love and Conviction. An excellent cook who’d delight in preparing meals for the family during Holidays and Reunions.

The forever blooming flowers throughout the inside and outside of her home evidenced her passion for Gardening.

An avid reader, and incredibly intelligent, she’d often amaze challengers by solving the NY Times Crossword puzzles in a ½ hour and would not tolerate misspelled words…especially from commercial publication.

Her love for travel was demonstrated early-on with annual summer vacations, never complaining of the challenges in driving four young children in a small Sedan to Long Boat Key, Florida every year. And later, during retirement years with her husband, Tony, would visit Alaska, Las Vegas, Panama, along with many cruises.

Joan also took up an interest in Dance at the young age of 7 where she and her cousin [and lifelong best friend], Carol Walerski [Maciolek] pursued the Art together. What started out with Ballet classes, later lead to Tap Dancing where both would become instructors at just 15; both would continue to teach and perform annually at the Michigan State Fair until they married and longed to start their own families.

Joan had a younger brother, Tom, who was born in 1943. Joan and Tom spent much of their younger years on their Aunt Mary’s and Uncle Dave’s farm learning life’s chores and lessons, including one often and unpleasant task of lifting chickens to gather eggs.

Memories of time spent on the farm evolved later to memories of Joe and Josephine’s retirement property they had bought on Pleasant Lake in West Bloomfield. Reminiscences of all the Uncles pitching-in to clear the land for camping and picnics were frequent conversation among family get-togethers. Construction of a cottage – Joe’s and Josephine’s retirement home - began in 1957. It took 9 years of family hands-on building and self-grueling labor before the cottage was complete in 1966.

This cottage on Pleasant Lake would be the foundation of family memories for three generations.

After Joan’s High School years, she advanced her education attending the Burroughs Business College; and upon completion of her degree, was hired by Floyd Rice Ford Dealership where she would end up meeting her life-long companion, Tony Durand. The two dated for 2 years before marrying in October 1962.

Tony and Joan moved into an apartment in Detroit on Strathmore; and soon after, in May 1963, welcomed their first child and oldest daughter Mary Durand. Tony’s mother, Mary Durand, was indescribably ecstatic as to not only have the first Grandchild named after her, but to also finally having a girl born within a family of 5 Durand Brothers [Tony, Gene, Paul, Vic, and Tom].

Tony and Joan shortly thereafter bought their first house together in Redford, MI during the summer of 1964. It would be in this house where they would welcome 3 more children: Joseph [April 1965], Michael [January 1967], and Susan [July 1970].

In the summer of 1972, the family moved to Union Lake, where Tony and Joan would raise their family for the next 32 years. Lovingly nurturing them through Elementary, Junior High, High School, and relentlessly laboring and sacrificing to bank every available nickel to see that all of them made it through their college years.

Later, Tony and Joan would witness the marriages to all of their children’s loving spouses:

Mary to Chris [Neff]:

Joe to Nancy

Mike to Laura

Sue to Dan [Moore]

Later Tony and Joan would witness and welcome 11 Grandchildren. Thomas, Christopher, Hillary, Charlie, Michael, Kevin, Autumn, Andy, Nicolina, Holly, and Melana.

Joan ended her incredibly successful and ‘ unwavering faithful’ journey peacefully in her sleep on July 30th, 2015 where she is now re-uniting with her Father Joseph, her Mother Josephine, her brother Tom, and all her dearest relatives and friends who have previously entered into God’s promise of Eternal Life.

We all Love You Dearly!

Visitation will be held Sunday, August 2, 2015 from 2:00pm until 8:00pm at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 3295 E. Highland Rd., Highland. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, August 3, 2015 at 10:00am (In State 9:00am) at Church of the Holy Spirit, 3700 Harvey Lake Rd., Highland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.