Joan Stearns, 84 years old, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 in Doylestown, PA.
Joan Gayle Heiser was born to Helen and John Heiser on June 25th, 1936, in Lakewood Ohio. She grew up there with younger brother Jack. She graduated from Lakewood High School and attended Bowling Green State University from 1955-1956. It was there she met her future husband, James Stearns. They married in 1956 and she then followed him to Purdue University where he completed his degree in electrical engineering. Her husband’s career led them to live in the cities of OH, WI, PA, IL, England, and IN. They retired to Naples, FL.
Joan enjoyed living in different communities and made many friends wherever she lived organizing outings for her groups of friends. She was an active volunteer for local public libraries and Goodwill Industries where she earned an award for outstanding volunteer of the year.
Music was always an important part of her life and she sang in choirs in her early years and was an accomplished lifelong pianist. She worked hard to install the love of music and the arts in her children.
Later in life, Joan became an antique dealer buying and selling antiques in various locations. She loved the hunt and the research needed to sell something!
Joan was fun-loving, curious, conscientious, thoughtful, caring and kind teaching her children to be the same and she treated everyone with graciousness and courtesy.
Beloved wife of the late James B. Stearns; dear sister of the late Jack Heiser; Joan is survived by her children, Amy Parenti (son-in-law, Dennis Parenti) of Doylestown; James Stearns, Jr. (daughter-in-law, Stacy Stearns) of Lawrenceville, NJ; Jacci Trandal (son-in-law David Trandal) of Santa Barbara, CA; Jeff Stearns of Lake Hopatcong, NJ; Joel Stearns of Sea Bright, NJ, and eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, grand-nieces and nephews.
Services will be private under the direction of the Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home, Doylestown, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to VH1 Save the Music Foundation or https://www.savethemusic.org.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com