Joan W. (Wallenstein) Hetrick

Joan Hetrick, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 18, 2023 in Cooperstown, New York.

She was born in Newark, NJ and lived most of her life throughout NJ, but also in Palmyra, PA and in the last 25 years, Cooperstown, NY.  She spent the summers of her childhood in Ocean Grove, NJ with her beloved grandparents, which is where she later met her husband, John.

In her early years, she held various positions as a bookkeeper, and later as an administrative manager for Ronson Consumer Products in Somerset, NJ.  She was known to have an aptitude for numbers and organization.

She loved animals, particularly dogs and horses.  She had several dogs through the years and enjoyed trail riding until her late forties.  Joan was very creative and was talented at knitting, crocheting, needlework, sewing and sketching.  She was an expert at wallpapering (math and visual skills!) and was mechanically inclined.  If she didn’t know how to do something she would figure it out.  She shared her mother’s sense of independence, curiosity and wit.

Determined and hard-working, she passed down her work ethic to all of her children and grandchildren.  She had a special love for her nieces and nephews, creating many fond memories for them to share.

Joan had a playful side, she loved music and was an amazing dance partner.  The house was filled with music and she delighted in singing songs from any era or genre.  She enjoyed telling stories about her life with her sisters; sharing their great sense of humor and singing the songs of their youth.

One of her favorite things to do was to spend time in the kitchen with her grandchildren, patiently passing down baking and cooking skills.  There was always a place for them next to her side, and laughs to be shared whether it involved a computer game or cards, or a mess yielding cookies in the oven, she enjoyed them all.

Joan will be remembered for making friends wherever she went and will be missed by all who knew her.  She is survived by her daughters, Kathi Foltyn (Ted), Jennifer Barbera, Vicki Bloomfield; grandchildren, Tom (Laura), Andrew, Amanda (Brian), Matthew, Jon (Patricia), Austin, and Alexis; and great granddaughter, Eloise.

She is predeceased by her husband John, mother Alice Nirmaier, uncles Kenneth Wallenstein and Wilson DelMar, and beloved cousin Nancy Jacobus.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 PM Monday, September 25, 2023 at Grantville Cemetery, 165 Firehouse Road, Grantville, PA.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the ASPCA.

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