Great sense of humor who loved chocolate and traveling
WAKEFIELD — Sadly, but having led a long and rewarding life, Joan Catherine Grady Hurley passed away on March 1 at the age of 95 in Reading.
Joan was born on December 29, 1929 in Whitehall, NY to Fred and Ellen Grady. The first historic fact her children ever learned was that Whitehall was the birthplace of the American Navy and Joan made sure they never forgot that. Joan graduated from Whitehall High School and then earned a degree from Albany Business College. After graduating from college, she worked as a bank teller.
One evening, she attended a party at Union College in Schenectady, NY where she met her future husband Frank. She spent her entire married life in Scotia, NY where she and Frank raised their family of six children. After 41 years of marriage, Frank died in 1992. After 26 additional years living alone in the big house on Bruce St., Joan moved to a senior residence in Wakefield where she enjoyed making new friends, happy hour, dancing and becoming a Boston Red Sox fan.
Joan was especially known for her sense of humor and was uttering witticisms until the end. She loved to read and thoroughly enjoyed playing cards and board games with her grandchildren. She always looked forward to family “game night” where she often emerged the victor. Her travel adventures from Ireland to Thailand and many places in between with Ginny Lundstrum and other lady friends were legendary. St. Patrick’s Day was her favorite holiday. Gene Kelly and Robert Redford were her major celebrity crushes. Chocolate was her favorite food group.
She will be greatly missed. Joan is survived by six children: Edward Hurley (Patricia) of Pittsboro, NC; Daniel Hurley (Tonnie) of Tucson, AZ; Joseph Hurley (Virginia) of Victor, NY; Peg White (Thomas) of Scotia, NY; John Hurley (Faith) of Annandale, VA; and Eileen Doherty (David) of Wakefield. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her older brother James (Jim) Grady who passed away in 2021.
A funeral Mass will be held on March 10 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Scotia followed by interment at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences, visit glenvillefuneralhome.com.