Obituary
DUDECK
Joan M., (Newton Smith Garnaat), went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 27, 2018 at the age of 80, in her home after a long illness, with her daughters and friends by her side as she passed away peacefully.
Joan leaves her daughters, Loni Kfoury and Sandra (Jim) Samples; son in law, Scott Wilson; stepsons, Dick (Laura) Garnaat and Alan (Linda) Garnaat; sister, Glenna Wentzloff; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her spouses, Charles H. Smith; Lawrence Garnnatt and Frank Dudeck; her daughter, Ruth Wilson; her grandson, Dewey Samples; 2 great-grandchildren, Brock & Noah; and her sister, Marilyn Woodruff.
Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on October 11, 1937 in the sun parlor of the family home, which her father built. Joan spent her entire life in the house until she married Charles Smith. They had their first child in 1958 and not long after they purchased their first home directly across the street from her parents who were still living in the family home.
After losing her first husband at a very one age, Joan remarried to Lawrence Garnaat. Having vacationed in Florida several times to see their friends, they loved the New Smyrna- Edgewater area and would talk about moving there. Bob passed before the two could make that happen. After the next winter, Joan made a trip to Florida to see their friends, came back and told all the kids she was not going to shovel any more snow. She had bought a house in Edgewater and was moving. Joan resided in the same home for over 30 years before going home to be with the Lord.
During her 30 years the neighbors would comment about her early morning walks down Riverside Drive which would start about 2 AM so she would have time to come home and eat before going to work. She did those walks for about 20 years and had gotten to 7 miles a day.
Joan also had an interest in law and had started at Daytona State in the paralegal program. Deciding after dreaming legal terms that was not going to work. She replaced that desire by joining the Citizen Observer program for Volusia County Sheriff’s office as a volunteer. She started around 2005 serving for about 7 years before becoming ill in 2012.
Joan will be cremated and taken to Kalamazoo, Michigan where her remains will be put to rest by her first love.
The family invites you to join them at the home to share the Celebration of Life at: 116 Yelkca Terrace, Edgewater, FL 32132 on Saturday, September 1, 2018 for an open house from noon to 4 PM. The family wants to thank you for all the prayers and support during this time.
A special thank you to my neighbors, friends, Hospice and caregivers for being there to allow our Mom to have her wishes to stay in her home until she went home to be with her Savior. “BLESSING UPON YOU ALL.” Services and burial for Joan in Kalamazoo, MI will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 10:30 AM in the Centerpoint City Church, 326 West Cork Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Joan’s burial will take place in the Mt Everest Cemetery, Kalamazoo, MI.
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