Joan Winchell
1935—2024
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Joan Bernadette Winchell (nee LaColla), loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many, passed away on March 26, 2024, following a brief illness. She was 88. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 33 years, Roger Winchell, and her six siblings – Gerald LaColla, Louis LaColla, Claire LaColla Lee, James LaColla, Grace LaColla, and Gloria LaColla.
Born in Beacon, NY in 1935 to James and Matilda LaColla, she spent her youth in Beacon before attending college at SUNY Albany, earning a teaching degree in 1957. She briefly taught in the Schenectady, NY school district before going on to earn a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz in 1976. During a summer break from college, she worked at the historic Mohonk Mountain House resort where she met Roger, marrying in 1958. Together, they had four sons between 1959-1969. She remained committed as a stay-at-home mom until her youngest finished Elementary School, at which time she resumed a rewarding career in teaching. As a longtime resident of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, she taught mathematics and Spanish at Cornwall Central HS for nearly 20 years, leaving a profound and enduring positive impact on countless students who remained in contact with her for years after graduation.
Upon her retirement in 1995, Joan led a very active and fulfilling life. She traveled the globe, from the Alaskan wild, to the great cities of Florence, Paris, Rome, Edinburgh, Saint Petersburg and Seville, to name but a few. She strolled the beaches of Australia, climbed the pyramids at Chichén Itza, visited the Forbidden City and the Vatican, listened to howler monkeys race across the overhead canopy in a pitch-dark Costa Rican rain forest night, walked along the Great Wall, and explored waters from the Yangtze River to those of the Scandinavian Vikings. Between travels, she always returned to the home and community she loved most, spending nearly six decades in the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. She routinely hosted holiday parties, especially on Christmas and 4th of July, where friends and family could gather to celebrate and enjoy life. She was a pizza-making extraordinaire, a life-long learner, and a fierce protector of her loved ones. Her wit, generosity, compassion, and resiliency were dominant traits that consistently shined throughout her life. She was also passionate about her beliefs and convictions, never being one to shy away from ensuring her opinions and preferences were heard. To those closest to her, it was undeniable that she was one of the toughest, most courageous, and determined women to ever bless this Earth. She beat cancer twice, survived open heart surgery, and endured grueling medical treatments and procedures over the span of four decades, all for the chance to experience the possibilities that life had to offer. She was a fighter throughout her life, bringing tenacity and perseverance to the battles she faced, continuously scrapping to beat whatever odds were stacked against her. Joan had no quit in her. She was steadfast in her desire to live the fullest life possible, displaying remarkable fortitude, strength, and resolve. She was a devout NY Giants and Eli Manning fan in the latter half of her life, always having faith he would pull off those big wins. As a lifelong Catholic full of compassion, she never passed up a chance to help others who were less fortunate than she. She generously donated both time and financial resources to those in need. She was very much loved and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.
She is survived by four sons, three daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren, including R. Mark Winchell and his wife Kimchi, of San Diego, CA; Christian P. Winchell, his wife Sabine, and their children Grace, Liesl, and Christien of Hillsborough, NJ; David A. Winchell and daughter Caroline of Newport Beach, CA; and Jonas M. Winchell and wife Kathleen, and daughters Keira and Devin of Lilburn, GA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joachim Church, 51 Leonard Street, Beacon on June 20, 2024 at 11 a.m.
To send a personal condolence please visit www.riverviewbyhalvey.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Patrick J. Halvey of Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, LLC.