Joan McComsey Obituary

Joan N. McComsey, 92, of Lancaster, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Jay McComsey, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage at the time of his passing in 2003.
Born in Lancaster, Joan was the daughter of the late Levi J. Nye and the late Helen (Rote) Good.
Joan was a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, class of 1951, and Millersville State Teacher's College, class of 1955, earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Joan taught 5th grade for 34 years in the School District of Lancaster, six at Lafayette Elementary and 28 at Fulton Elementary. She retired in 1993.
Joan loved teaching. Not having children of her own, she considered her students her "children." Joan collected friends of all ages throughout her life, saying "friends are the family you choose for yourself." In her retirement she enjoyed going out for lunch with them and sent cards to remember their special days. She helped organize monthly retired teachers luncheons, which continue to this day. For hobbies, Joan collected paperweights, snowmen, and duck decoys. Joan had a passion to save Monarch butterflies, keeping a Monarch butterfly "hotel" each summer. Joan planted milkweed and collected the caterpillars, watching them each spin a chrysalis and releasing them to fly away. Her best year she released a total of 44.
Joan is survived by a niece, Lauren McClune Krak, and her daughter, Natalie (Stephen Latanishen), and sons, Louie and Davie Krak, all of Harrisburg; and a nephew, Tony (Beth) Vulopas, and his daughters, Milena (Ethan) Cartusciello and Isabella Vulopas, all of Lancaster. She is also survived by a niece, Doris Mankin, of Quarryville, and a nephew, Larry McComsey, of Denver.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 15, at Dewald Funeral & Cremation Services, 227 West 4th Street, Quarryville, PA 17566, with Pastor Blake Deibler officiating. Visitation is from 10 AM to 11 AM. Interment will follow the service at Quarryville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joan's memory to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125, and, in Joan's own words, "Please remember – do random acts of kindness.
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