Joan was an intelligent, artistic woman with a quick mind and a marvelous sense of humor. Both pragmatic and refined, she was a cross between Mary Tyler Moore and Lucille Ball, possessing the looks and mannerisms of the first, the sense of humor of the latter, and the natural elegance of both. She loved classical music, Broadway musicals, and Frank Sinatra; studied classical piano for many years; and sang often. After graduating high school, she attended a year of college to acquire secretarial skills and further her music education, then worked as a secretary until her marriage in 1959. A dedicated homemaker, she also worked as a medical assistant at a physician’s office for ten years once her children were older. She was devoted to her husband (affectionately referring to him as “Alfie”, after the eponymous song) and to her children– determined to provide a good education for them, she sacrificed a lot of time and mileage driving them to their Catholic schools. She was a marvelous cook; her offspring still want certain dishes made “you know, like Mom used to make.” Her deep and possibly biological love of chocolate was passed on to all four children (unlike that cooking ability, unfortunately!). She was a devout Catholic and a good and true friend; she kept her two closest friendships, made in elementary and high school, for over 70 years.
Daughter of Joseph and Helen Martin, Joan is predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Arthur Wasek, and survived by her children, Andrea (Christopher), Gregory (Kelly), Steven (Mary), and Annette (Matthew); her four grandchildren, Katie, Kristen (Jon), Grace (Mark), and James; and her three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Jack, and Hailey.
