Joan Ann Sloane

Sloane, Joan Ann (nee Gavin) born September 22, 1934 passed away peacefully on September 16, 2015 at the home she shared with her daughter Karen Hanley in West Hartford, CT. At the time of her gentle passing, she was surrounded by her loving family. She met the challenge of pancreatic cancer as she chose to live her life: with grace, strength, dignity and a sense of humor. Prior to moving to West Hartford, CT, Joan lived in Old Tappan, NJ and Westwood, NJ. She is predeceased by her loving husband Gerald Sloane who died in 2011.

Born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY and raised in Forest Hills, Queens, NY she was the daughter of Francis and Margaret (nee Meehan) Gavin. Her beloved brother Martin Gavin predeceases her. Joan enjoyed spending carefree summers with her family at a farm in Goshen, NY.

Valedictorian of her Richmond Hills High School class of 1951, Joan accepted a full scholarship to Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA. Postponing her college education sophomore year to care for her ill father, Joan resumed her studies at Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY for a short period choosing leave school as she accepted a marriage proposal from her fiancé Patrick Hanley. As Patrick was stationed in Maison Fort, France during the Korean War, Joan boarded an aging student ship to France embarking upon a ten-day journey across the Atlantic to meet her newly enlisted fiancé. The couple planned to marry in Paris and live in Orleans, France. Living on a serviceman’s salary, Joan and Patrick enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, often on $2.00 a day, made possible with the purchase of a 1941 VW Beetle. This adventure served as the catalyst for Joan’s lifelong passion for travel and exploring the world.

The love of travel and exploring the world became more frequent after meeting Gerald Sloane in 1974. Joan and Jerry married June 3, 1983 at the home they shared in Westwood, NJ surrounded by their children, family and friends. A marriage and life rich with love, deep admiration, friendship and caring Joan and Jerry enjoyed spending time collecting antiques and collectibles, traveling to their second home in Arlington, VT and sharing time with their children and grandchildren.

Always instilling the importance of learning and education to her children, Joan continued her education as a single parent, working full-time while attending college. She graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1973 with a BA in Psychology and worked for several years at the college. Nearly completing an MBA at Rutgers University, Joan left her position with the State of New Jersey to take a position with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Joan’s competent skills as a departmental manager afforded her the opportunity to manage several departments within the agency for nearly two decades, her last assignment being within the General Services Division. Many former employees continue to remember Joan as a manager who demonstrated kindness, mentoring and caring by sending holiday cards each year.

A cherished mother, Joan is survived by her children Jacqueline Hanley Hora and husband Mies Hora, Karen Hanley and partner Joan Williams, Kenneth Sloane and Amy Sloane. Joan will be sadly missed by her grandchildren Yelena Hanley, Hudson Hora, Katharine Williams, Ian Williams, Duncan Sloane, Tristan Sloane and Anjali Hewitt-Sloane. She leaves many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins and her sisters-in-law Patricia Gavin and Rosemary Gold.

The family will receive friends and family at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ on Friday, September 18, 2915 from 4:00pm—8:00pm. A service will be held at Becker Funeral Home on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 9:30am. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories, Twp. of Washington, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joan to the Lustgarten Foundation Lustgarten.org/donate.