Joan Blando

Joan Blando, age 89, passed away peacefully at home at Preston Pointe retirement community in Morrisville, North Carolina on Saturday, July 25, 2026, surrounded by family, caregivers, and her beloved cat. She was born on September 23, 1936, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Joseph and Margaret (McCorkle) Boyd. In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Anthony Blando, and her sister, Anne (Boyd) Crutchfield.

Joan spent her youth in rural Oklahoma and Kansas and moved to Kansas City, Missouri during high school, graduated from Southwest High School, and attended some college at the University of Kansas before becoming a secretary and then a homemaker. She met and married her husband, Anthony “Tony” Blando, and was embraced by his large and loving Italian family. Joan and Tony resided in Kansas City for over forty years where he practiced as a general surgeon, and they raised their children, Joe and Jennifer.

In retirement, they moved to Cary, North Carolina to be closer to their daughter and her family and split their time between active communities in Cary and Naples, Florida, playing golf, attending social events, and dancing.

Joan moved to Preston Pointe in 2019. She was warm and friendly and at the same time feisty and opinionated. She made friends easily and loved going to parties. Joan was a lifelong birder, movie goer, and avid reader. She sported her signature red hair until she passed away.

Joan is survived by her daughter Jennifer Ferris and son-in-law Mike; son Joe Blando and daughter-in-law Karen; grandchildren Catherine Blando, Joe Blando, Jr, Hope Ferris, and Claire Ferris.

The family wishes to thank the lovely residents and staff at Preston Pointe; her friends at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church; the supportive team at Amedisys Hospice; and all the caregivers at Hands of Compassion Angels for their gentle and loving care of Joan for over a year.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 15 at 2pm at Preston Pointe.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joan’s memory to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to support birds and nature.

Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Blando family.