Joan Marie Walker Orlando, 89, of Seabrook, Texas joined her husband, Joe, in Heaven on September 14, 2021. She was born on May 13, 1932 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Pauline Walker.
Joan was the oldest of four daughters. She attended school in Boston, including the High School of Practical Arts. On October 17, 1953, she married the love of her life, Joe Orlando, and they were married for 67 wonderful years. They lived in Brockton, Massachusetts, where she first worked as a teacher’s aide. She then took additional medical classes at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in the Adult Education Program and at Purdue University to become a Certified Nurse’s Aide and a Certified Registered Central Service Technician. She worked at Goddard Hospital for several years before retiring to raise their three sons and a daughter. She was devoted to her family and raised her four children with a firm hand…but a soft heart. She was always there for guidance, but let them make their own decisions and they learned from their mistakes. She was also always there for all of her children’s friends and many still kept in touch with her.
In 1989, Joe and Joan relocated to Seabrook, Texas. Each year she looked forward to her many RV trips back to New England and also to Florida to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was “Nana.” They were her pride and joy, but none ever wanted to hear the words, “If you don’t behave, you’re going to Nana Camp.” She was also Nana to every child that ever lived on Broussard Court. For over 20 years, all of the kids on the street would stop by her house for treats after school. They knew they could just walk in, without knocking, and help themselves. And if their parents were not home, they all knew they always had a place to stay until their parents returned home. But it wasn’t just the kids on the street that loved to stop by for a visit. Joan’s home was also known for weekly watch parties of the Bachelorette and regular games of Bunco, and Joe would kindly retreat to his office for a few hours while the ladies took over the house. In addition to Nana, she was also known as the “treat lady” to her granddogs, whom she absolutely adored.
Joe and Joan were the perfect match. Like Joe, she never met a stranger. Whether she was at the market, a doctor’s office, her beautician for a “clip and a dip,” or St. John’s, where she exercised for many years, each trip out of the house would take hours due to the amount of time she spent visiting with people. Joan was also known, especially with her doctors and nurses, for her brownies. It was rare that Joan ever showed up to any appointment without her signature brownies.
There are no words to describe how Joan will be missed by so many people. She is survived by her children David Orlando (Cathy), Robert Orlando (Sue), Joseph Orlando (Donna), Jean Fairchild (Todd); grandchildren Robert Orlando (Ellen), Michael Orlando (Jackie), Christopher Orlando (Tricia), Joseph McLennan, Nicole Orlando, Dillon Fairchild, Heather Orlando; great-grandchildren Ryan Orlando, Zach Hall, Natalie Orlando, Elisabeth Orlando, Evan Orlando; sister Casey Walker Shea.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters Nancy Sullivan and Janet Aylward.
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