LAGRANGEVILLE – Joan V. May, a lifelong local area resident, died on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. She was 72.
Daughter of the late John and Valoria (Petranela) Kissel, she was born in Newburgh on January 31, 1945.
Joan had a green thumb and loved gardening, flowers and making dried flower arrangements. She loved and cared for dogs Ripley and Gabe, loved to decorate, especially for the seasons and holidays, cook and make sure everyone always had enough to eat, as well as shop for her loved ones. She went to many Broadway shows and frequently hosted parties at her home for family and friends. Joan was a selfless person who always put others first. Above all else, she cherished spending time with her grandchildren teaching them old childhood songs, flipping through toy catalogues, and spent countless hours pretending to attend royal balls and play beauty salon.
Joan loved and excelled in her work as a Licensed NYS Medical Technologist specializing in Histology where she was employed by medical facilities such as St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh, NY; MDS Laboratories in Poughkeepsie, NY and spent the last 17 years working for Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel. In her extensive career she fostered many lifelong friendships.
On July 12, 1969, she married Charles P. May in Newburgh. Charles survives at home in Lagrangeville with her beloved Ripley.
Additional survivors include her eldest son, Charles John May of Poughkeepsie, NY; her youngest son, Keith Russell May & his wife Karen Ann May of Wappingers Falls; her grandchildren, Carter, Kylie, and Callie; her brother, Jack Kissel of Cragsmoor, NY; her cousin Susan Smith of New Paltz, NY and many other loving relatives & friends. She was joyfully awaiting the arrival of her next grandchild, due any day.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, as well as two brothers, Paul & Stanley Kissel.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 15 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 16 at the Hopewell Reformed Church, 143 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction. Interment will be at a later time at the convenience of the family.
Because Joan was a breast cancer survivor, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; wwww.cancer.org or Susan G. Komen, Dept. 41831, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265; www.komen.org.
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Joan’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.