Joan was born on April 14, 1929 in Queens, NY, the daughter of English and Irish immigrants. In 1935, when Joan was 6 years old her family traveled to England. Although they intended on returning to the States, while there Joan’s father passed away from pneumonia and her widowed mother was denied re-entry to the US. Joan stayed in England with her mother and brother. They lived through World War II, spending many nights in bomb shelters before evacuating to Wales for a time. Following the war, Joan and her family continued to live in Birkenhead, England. In 1953, at the age of 24, Joan decided to return to America. She quickly found work in New York City as a medical secretary.
In 1954 Joan met her beloved husband John. She was captivated by his brilliant blue eyes, and he fell in love with this beautiful and smart woman. In November of 1956 they married and settled down in Nanuet, New York. After a few years they transferred to New Jersey and built a home in Hamilton Square where they lived for over 35 years raising their 4 daughters and creating a beautiful family. Joan worked at home raising the girls for many years, but once they were all in school she decided to pursue other job opportunities. She took a position as a secretary at American Cyanamid in Princeton. After a few years, having shown a strong understanding of the emerging IT industry, Joan became an IT Support Specialist. During this time Joan also received her Associate’s degree. In 1996 she and John retired to Lehigh Acres, Florida.
Joan was a lovely person. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She was very intelligent and enjoyed reading all sorts of literature and was a whiz at crossword puzzles. She was an accomplished seamstress making wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dress, baptismal gowns/rompers, quilts and embroidered pieces. She sewed mainly for her family, but also donated items to various charitable causes.
Joan was predeceased by John, her loving husband of more than 62 years and her parents William and Catherine McKinney. Joan is survived by her brother Bill and his wife Liz McKinney, four loving daughters and son-in-laws, Trisha Bennett, Eileen Spicher, Lynn and Ken Zielinski and Kathy and Ed Mikalsen, nine grandchildren David, Candace, Dylan, Sarah, Kayla, Eddie, Samantha, Melissa and Johnathan, and one great granddaughter Sophie. Joan is also survived by nieces, nephews, many generations of friends, and her faithful dog Oliver.
Joan would like us to remember her with smiles and laughter. As we helped our mom through her final days we were able to reminisce about the decades of lovely, happy and sometimes hilarious memories she leaves with us. Dad would call them “yuckers” and mom would laugh uncontrollably. Like when...
-she sent pearls scattering across the Macy’s jewelry counter in an effort to demonstrate Pop-It Pearls to her new mother-in-law (they weren’t Pop-Its).
-she powdered the playing cards and then put them in the automatic card shuffler sending a dense cloud of talc right into her face.
-she, after a long flight back from the U.K., entered the men’s room in the Philadelphia airport. Never realizing her error, she exited the bathroom and reported back to Dad and Sarah that that was a peculiar bathroom with the funniest little sinks and soaps that she’d ever seen.
Mom leaves us with a million kitchen gadgets (including but not limited to, an Ebelskiver Turning Tool, 5 different kinds of strawberry hullers and a porridge stirrer), bolts of fabric and sewing notions and, most importantly, a lifetime of happiness.
A viewing will be held at Hodges-Farley Funeral Home, 1100 Lee Blvd, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 in Lehigh Acres, FL, on Monday, January 21, 2019 from 5-7 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Ft Myers, FL 33913. Flowers are kindly appreciated. Memorial contributions can be made to Hope Hospice (www.hopehcs.org). For information call 239-334-4880.
Eileen wrote a beautiful poem in honor of mom...
Mom
You closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep
How lucky the heavens are to gain an angel so sweet Hundred of stars dance in the sky
But none sparkle like your beautiful eyes
Your heart of gold through all the years
So many memories that just bring us to tears
Even though our hearts are broke and full of pain
We wear a smile when we hear your sweet name
You filled our hearts with love till the end
We’re so lucky to call you our mom and friend
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