Joan Ilona Bedosky

She was preceded in death by her loving parents Stephen L. Emerson and Margaret (Toth) Emerson and husband of 35 years, Stephen J. Bedosky (Bud). Joan is survived by a son Stephen J. Bedosky and wife Terri, daughter Kristen A. Donahue and husband Jim, and grandchildren Karinne Bedosky, Anya Bedosky, Collin Donahue and Harrison Donahue.

She graduated from Cortland Teachers College in 1959. After college Joan and Bud joined Middle Country School District in Centereach Long Island. Joan was an elementary school teacher until deciding to be a stay home mom and homemaker. Joan was an excellent cook, often incorporating many of the lessons from her Hungarian parents and grandparents into family meals. She insisted that the family be at the dinner table together every night; a tradition that her children later brought into their homes. She was an avid cheerleader for her children, always on the sidelines at soccer games, track meets, and volleyball games. She was the ultimate “soccer mom” before soccer moms required a mini-van and Starbucks. She was a firm believer in education; making sure there was time in the schedule for homework and studying.

After becoming an “empty nester”, Joan went back to school to earn her master’s degree in Theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. She was actively involved in her church, St. Thomas More in Hauppauge, were she served as Eucharistic Minister. She served on many volunteer committees and later in life enjoyed the fellowship of the “Young at Heart” group. Their gatherings at Branchinelli’s was a highlight in her routine.

Her grandchildren share fond memories of making pecan snowballs at Christmas time, going to movies, summers in the pool, and personalized Christmas tree ornaments.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church at 9:45 am on Saturday July 13, 2019 in Hauppauge NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or Big Bend Hospice (www.bigbendhospice.org).