Joan Derella

Joan Anne Derella, 75, of Port St. Lucie, FL died on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Joan was born April 1, 1938 in Manhattan, NY, to John and Helen Lenihan and grew up on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY. Joan married Richard J. Derella in 1955 and raised their six children in West Nyack, NY. As her children grew, her entrepreneurial spirit took hold, and for over 30 years she was involved in real estate. She became a successful real estate broker in New City, NY, owning and operating Joan Derella Realty and later purchasing and operating The Raintree Motel in Congers, NY. She then joined the Clarkstown Town Assessors Office as a Data Collector; Joan was later named the Director of Real Property for Rockland County. She retired from that position in 2004 and moved to South Florida. Joan was a generous, fun-loving, caring woman with a huge heart. Always willing to help someone in need, she often thought of others before herself. She was artistic and creative as well as an excellent cook, who enjoyed entertaining and planning dinners for family and friends. Joan was the center of her large family, and the people she loved were always her first interest. In the early 1980s she purchased a small lake house in Pennsylvania, where each summer she would gather her close-knit extended family to spend a weekend together for what she called "Cousins Club." The memorable traditions and family bond she created continue today, treasured by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and cousins. It was Joan's hope that these cherished family moments would never end.Joan is survived by her children, Richard (Betzi) Derella, Debra (Ivan) Derella-Cheren, Kevin (Lori) Derella, William (Nicole) Derella, TJ Derella, and Daniel (Ping) Derella; her life partner of 25 years, Daniel Galvin; and her beloved grandchildren, Shanei, Janelle, Breana, Sage Cheren, Nicholas, Kristin, Olivia, Lily, Sophie, William, Madison, Gabrielle, Brennan, and Maxwell. Joan also leaves her brothers, Jack (Faith) Lenihan and Richard (Arlene) Lenihan.A Memorial Service will be held on February 22nd from 2-5PM in New City, New York at the Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956.