Joan Najarian

Joan Najarian was called home on Sunday, July 29, 2018, after a long battle with cancer. She was 76.
Joan is survived by her husband, Gerry; daughters, Suzanne Najarian Goodson and Sharon Najarian; grandchildren, Zabelle and Lila Najarian and Eldon and Fiona Goodson; sister, Peggy Jean Nolte; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan was a loving and optimistic woman who always believed the best about people and often expressed that feeling. She always had a smile for her friends and relatives as well as for strangers. She especially had a warm spot in her heart for children and had lived this sentiment in her early career as an elementary school teacher.
Joan grew up in Irvington, N.Y., and graduated from Irvington High School and subsequently attended Elmira College, where she received a bachelor's degree in education. After graduation and marriage to Gerry, she taught in the elementary school that she herself attended along with teachers who taught her and her parents.
She had a strong spirit expressed in a serene and quiet manner. She loved life and new experiences and was often in awe of natural beauty and historic places. Her passions, in addition to her family and particularly her grandchildren, were the arts especially painting. She was an accomplished painter of miniatures. She loved going to art museums and was fond of modern art and abstract works. She was fond of beautiful flowers and was a member of the Milford Garden Club.
Visitation was scheduled to be held at Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford, Pa., on Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a prayer service at 8 p.m.
Flowers are welcome — she loved flowers — as are donations in her memory to American Cancer Society, CancerCare of New Jersey and The Pennsylvania Campaign For Women’s Health.
Cremation will be private, and a memorial service will be held at a later date.