Joan Kney

Joan Kney of Pearl River, NY died peacefully at home of natural causes on July, 2nd 2020.
She was 91 years young and a loving Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma (aka GG).

Joan was born in Scranton PA but soon moved to Arden St. in Manhattan where she spent her formative years before meeting the love of her life (Gerry). They started their lives together in 1953 living in Riverdale NY, and then moved to Pearl River once the Tappan Zee Bridge was completed, to raise their rapidly growing family.

Before retiring in 1989 Joan had a wide-ranging career in the field of nursing. Her first position was at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after completing her studies at Hunter College and Columbia. While raising her 4 children she worked as a nurse at Nyack Hospital. Once the kids got older it was time for the next challenge in pursuing her master’s degree in nursing which led to Nurse Educator positions at BOCES and Bronx Community College. The pinnacle of her career was becoming the Director of Nursing at the Edna McConnell Clark School of Nursing at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, retiring in 1989 due to school closure. She was truly a pioneer for her generation, a role model for her daughters and all young women. She was not only admired by those that loved her, but by the many others that she advised, encouraged, and guided in pursuit of their own path in the nursing profession.

Joan was an independent woman, although challenged by the untimely loss of her husband Gerry at the age of 50; she pursued her love of travel visiting many different parts of the United States and around the world. She was very active and skied, swam, hiked,  biked and volunteered for United Hospice,  well into her senior years. 
She was loved for her quick wit and intellect and was quite the conversationalist, especially when it came to politics. She loved to play bridge, a good read, and a glass of wine at the end of the day. 
But mostly she was loved for the values and love she instilled in her children and the enjoyment she got from her grandkids and great grandkids. Watching them flourish and grow into the people they are today. She will be greatly missed my many.  

She is survived by daughters, Sue (Bob) Goldrick, Barbara (Bob) Wilson, son Jack (Trong Ngyuen), grandchildren, Megan (Dan) Finnegan, Kaity Goldrick, Alex, Maddie, and Anna Wilson, and great grandchildren Nora and Natalie Finnegan. She is predeceased by husband Gerry (1980), and son Gerry Jr. (2012) both taken too young.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM Tuesday at Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River, NJ.  Burial will follow at Cemetery of the Ascension, Airmont, NY.  Visiting is Monday from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home Inc. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to United Hospice of Rockland. 

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