Joan Miriam Hilarides

Joan Miriam Hilarides, age 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, October 31, 2022 in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Joan had battled the effects of a stroke for almost six years and had lived her life with a fierceness and stoicism rooted in her New England upbringing.

Preceding her in death was her husband Roger Hilarides (2005), and her daughters Karen Hilarides (2014) and Sally Hilarides (2021).

Joan is survived by her two sons, William (Willy) and Roger (Chip), as well as 5 grandchildren (Ben Hilarides, Candice Schwartz, Connie Hilarides, Robert McParland and Gavin Hilarides) and 2 great-grandchildren (Wyatt and Caleb Schwartz).

Joan was born in Barrington, Rhode Island, and met her future husband Ensign Roger Hilarides in Newport, RI. They married and raised their family in Grand Rapids (MI), Charleston (WV) and Hickory Hills (IL). She and her husband Roger retired to Port Sheldon in western Michigan. Joan moved from her family home in Port Sheldon Michigan to Virginia last year.

Joan was a woman of many talents. Beside raising a family, she drove school buses, became a professional tax preparer, went back to school and became a certified Medical Laboratory Technician, and gained more education to become a computer programmer for Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies. She loved to travel and spend time with her family and friends at the family cottage and home on Pigeon Lake.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Lakeshore Memorial Services - 11939 James St. Holland, MI 49424. Interment will follow at West Olive Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.