Joan F. Stuart

August 4, 1935 - October 10, 2020

Joan Frances Ballinger Stuart of Hope N.Y. was called home to our Lord, Jesus Christ on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Ellis Hospital. Joan was born on August 4, 1935, in Union, New Jersey to her loving parents John C. and Frances Guenzler Ballinger. Joan loved to travel. After high school she traveled two times to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner and came back on the Queen Mary. She was accompanied by her best friend Anne Orr the first trip. Joan went to Trenton College then transferred to Newark State Teachers College which is now known as Kean University. She became a High School English Teacher at Union High School in New Jersey and also homeschooled many children. She spent summers in Wells as a teenager with Anne Orr. This is where she met and later married John Stuart Sr. on December 21, 1963. After marrying her love they moved to Hope N.Y. Joan started teaching at Wells Central School, she taught High School English, and later, Third grade. She was known to all of the children as their favorite teacher. Everybody you talk to would say that she was the favorite teacher that they ever had. Joan loved to have a girl’s night out playing cards and dominoes with her sisters Nancy and Betty. She spent many years in the Hope Women’s Auxiliary. She belonged on the Wells bowling team for many years. Joan loved to watch her children and grandchildren play soccer, baseball, and basketball as well as watching the Yankees, Mets and Cowboys on TV. She loved to read, play the piano, and also taught some of her grandchildren how to play piano. She also enjoyed entertaining her friends at their camp in Hope Falls. Joan was an intelligent woman who never lost her wit. She was the strongest woman that we ever knew. Joan traveled with her family every year. She loved to swim in the ocean and also loved to travel to Lake Ontario and swim in the big waves. One of her favorite places to visit was Daytona Beach, Florida where she stayed at the Shoreline Hotel for over 30 years. After she retired she spent her winters at the Shoreline with her husband John, where they made many lifelong friends there. Joan was predeceased by her parents, her sister Nancy Reu, and brother in law Darryl Goldbeck. Joan is survived by her husband John Stuart Sr. of 56 years, her three loving boys John Jr. (Darcey), William (Sandy), Mark (Kathleen). Her pride and joy was her grandchildren Coby, Byron, Kayla (Brandon Bleyl), Cheyenne, and Justin. She has a great granddaughter Adaliah Bleyl, her sister Betty Goldbeck, brother-in-law Ronald Reu, and several nieces and nephews. Private funeral service for family and friends will be held at the Wadsworth Cemetery in Hope, NY. and a celebration of her life will be held at the Wesleyan Church, Wells, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; Joan was a breast cancer survivor. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Northville Funeral Home. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.northvillefuneralservice.com.