Joan Patricia Vail

Joan Patricia Vail a long-time resident of Orange County and Temecula, California passed away peacefully on April 2, 2024, in Leesburg, Virginia with her family by her side. She was born July 3, 1935, to the late Hazel Marie Moran (Whitney) and James Francis Moran in Brooklyn, New York.

Joan grew up in the Bronx, New York in a tight-knit Irish community. She had fond memories of attending school at St John’s Parish School, playing with the numerous children in her apartment building, and spending time with her extended family, especially her Irish Grandmother, Julia, and Uncle John. Joan spent summers in high school and college working at General Motors and serving as a camp counselor. She graduated with honors from the Academy of Mount Saint Ursula in Bedford Park, New York City in 1953 and from Marymount College Terrytown-on-Hudson, New York in 1957. Joan was the first person in her family to graduate from college. In 1960, she earned a Master of Science in Education from Hunter College, New York City. After college, Joan was an elementary school teacher in Yonkers, New York from 1957 to 1960. In 1960 she moved to San Diego, California where she taught primary grades in the San Diego Unified School District.

In 1961, Joan married Jack Dewit Vail who was her husband of 62 years. They had two beloved daughters—Joan and Jacqueline. In 1967, they moved to Costa Mesa and then in 1973 to Tustin where Joan was an elementary school teacher with the Fountain Valley Unified School District from 1969 until 1998 when she retired. In 1998, Joan and Jack retired to Temecula, California where they had 20 wonderful years. She was a member of St. Catherine of Alexandria parish and the Temecula Tea Society. In 2022, Joan and Jack moved to Leesburg, Virginia to be near family. Her family was always her priority and she loved spending time with her grandchildren and never missed a family birthday, graduation, or school event. Joan had many hobbies including making greeting cards, gardening, watching football, sewing, antiquing, reading, and scrapbooking.

Joan is survived by her husband, Jack Vail of Leesburg, Virginia; her daughter Joan Vail Grimson (Jeff), of Great Falls, Virginia; her grandchildren Jacqueline Anna Grimson and Julianna Vail Grimson and predeceased by her daughter, Jacqueline Bridget Vail.

A funeral mass in celebration of her life will be held at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, California on June 7 followed by a graveside service at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California on June 8.