Joan Makin

She made the Makin home a welcome, joyous place; the magnet house for all the neighborhood. Her kids would return home to find their friends already there, sitting with Joan, seeking out her advice; a mom for everyone. “It is what it is” she’d most likely tell them; Joan had a calming presence. When she needed to get away, she’d fill her pop-up trailer with supplies for the weekend all summer long and head off for camping, grabbing a couple neighborhood kids on the way out the door to join the fun. And she travelled with gusto: her 60’s found her travelling with a senior hostel cross country skiing in Alaska and searching for treasure on Oak Island. She loved to maintain her property; all her gardens planned out well in advance. Her turkey dinner was the best in the world; her pork chops not so much. Stay out of her way on the dance floor; Joan did a mean jitterbug. She was active for many years in the Eastern Star Covenant 108 in Palmyra and worked as a dispatcher for Macmillan Publishing.

She’d meet a guy at a talent show: Joan did a hula dance, Donald sang. They’d share a 67-year marriage (Donald, the captain of the ship, but married to the Admiral)) and be blessed by two children: Dawn Banski and Joe; and later by her grandkids, Christopher, Jonathon, Sarah and Allen. She is survived by her sisters, Claire Conway and Darlene Dement (John). She was preceded in death by her siblings, Shirley States and Raymond Peacock.

Come celebrate 84 great years Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside where there will be a 1 p.m. service. Interment Lakeview Cemetery, Cinnaminson. In lieu of flower donations to the Leukemia Society (lls.org) will be appreciated.