Joan Adele Heller

With heavy hearts and smiles on our faces, we bid farewell to Joan Heller, who passed away at the impressive age of 101. Her life was a tapestry of laughter, and enduring love, and a few wrong turns along the way—both on continents afar and in many a Florida parking lot.

Joan lived a life that could fill volumes. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY surrounded by a large family and what would become life-long friends. Brooklyn is also where she met the love of her life Robert Heller. A romance that blossomed through love letters exchanged during World War II and that resulted in a 60-year marriage before Bob’s passing in 2001, as well as three children, eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Known for her stubborn yet endearing nature, Joan would dig in her heels in any argument. She would travel miles for family and friends. Joan would show up for anything and everything, never missing a family milestone or a friend’s birthday. She saw more of the world than most foreign correspondents. Her passport was a mosaic of stamps from every corner of the globe, trips that she continued to take well into her eighties, including one at age 82 that brought her within shouting distance of the South Pole with her granddaughter, Amelia, by her side.

Joan’s love for her family and travel was only matched by her passion for art. In retirement, when she was not busy volunteering at the National Museum of Women in Arts in Washington, DC., she had the time to hone her artistic talents, creating beautiful sculptures and paintings. Her devotion to creating art continued late into her life until her eyesight began to fail.

In her later years, Joan relished simpler pleasures, such as listening to a beautiful opera on

her” Bozie” (her name for her Bose CD player) or sitting on her porch enjoying the breeze of mild Florida mornings while catching up with her beloved daughters and grandchildren.

While we mourn her passing, we take comfort in knowing that Joan’s spirit lives on in the memories she created and the lessons she taught us; how to strive for what you want and not be afraid to get lost in life, but instead laugh at ourselves while already starting to plan the next adventure.

As time passed, Joan became more quiet and less mobile. But, every now and then she would open her eyes and tell those around her that she loved them.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Jacob’s Tender Loving Care, the home that lovingly cared for Joan in her later years, or the National Museum of Women in the Arts where she was a volunteer (https://nmwa.org/), an organization that celebrates and supports the passions of artists like Joan.

Joan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jeff Faine, daughter Wendy Heller Evans, 8 grandchildren and their spouses ; Jordana and Jon, Jeanine and Fred, Jesse and Lior, Jacob and Annie, Sam and Lorren, Amelia and David, Sarah and Brian, Jenny and Josh; 13 great grandchildren Abigail, Eleanor, Jocelyn, Joelle, Betty, Elias, Julia, Ben, Noa, Jordan, Jack, Leona and Josephine.

Jacob’s Tender Loving Care

Mail checks to:

Jacobs Tender Loving Care 7000 NW 6th St., Plantation, Fl 33317

OR donate here:

https://gofund.me/1fdf8c68

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