Mary Vranken Obituary

Mary Joan Vranken, 90, passed peacefully on the morning of June 28th, 2025, surrounded by three younger generations at her home in Windham, New Hampshire. At the moment of her passing, a majestic deer ran past her bedside window-an unmistakable sign from Joan reminding us to carry on her legacy of love, kindness, patience, and strength.
Known lovingly as "Joan" to most, and affectionately as "Beans," "Bina," "Beana," or "Beanie-Boo" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.
Joan was born on March 8, 1935, during a snowstorm at her maternal grandmother's home in South Amboy, New Jersey. She graduated from Highland Park High School and went on to study pre-med at Rutgers College, a testament to her intellect and curiosity.
In 1956, she married the love of her life, John "Jack" Vranken. Together, they raised four children and built a successful business, Propane Equipment, which specialized in alternative fuels for transportation fleets and forklift conversions. The family lived in Rahway and Morganville before settling in their forever home in Rumson, NJ, in 1967.
Joan traveled extensively with her family, but her heart was always happiest at home. After Jack's passing in 1981, she continued to run the family business in Tinton Falls for decades.
In 1988, Joan unofficially relocated to New Hampshire to help care for her grandson Charlie, who has cerebral palsy. Though she often joked she was "still just visiting," she remained for over 37 years, selflessly dedicating herself to Charlie's care and the well-being of her entire family. She also lovingly cared for her own mother, Mary "Monia" Fedak, full-time for the last three years of Monia's life.
Joan was a talented pianist, a lover of puzzles (always done without the box cover!), and enjoyed peaceful days at the family's lake house on Lake Winnipesaukee. She was a lifelong collector of antiques and treasured keepsakes and was revered as the gentle yet powerful matriarch of the family.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Jack, her daughter Lori, her parents Peter and Mary (Baranoski) Fedak, and her brother Peter and his wife Susan. Remarkably, Joan passed less than 24 hours after her dear brother Peter-just 13 months her junior-whom we imagine gave her a loving nudge to join him.
She is survived by her children: Kim McMahon and husband Charlie, Cindy Siegel and husband Ira, and Jack Vranken and wife Young-Mi; her grandchildren: Charlie McMahon, Brittney Bergeron and husband Nick, Shane McMahon, and Sakura Su and husband Ryan; and her great-grandchildren: Brooke and Noelle Bergeron, Ayla and Kai Su. She also leaves behind her sister Dorothy MacPherson and her husband Ken, her sister-in-law Norma Vranken, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
"Beana" will be deeply missed and forever remembered as the angel she was in life.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at Brookhaven Hospice, especially Karen, Faith, Reina, Kyra, and Victoria. A very special thank you to Jessica Joy Karcz for her years of boundless love and care for Beana.
Joan was graceful, humble, and endlessly loving. Her calm spirit was paired with a strength and vitality that made her larger than life. She was truly one of a kind-so kind, in fact, we often joked you couldn't say a bad word about her. To us, she was "St. Joan."
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of her devotion to her grandson Charlie to:
Community Crossroads
8 Commerce Drive, Atkinson, NH 03811
(Supporting disability service programs in Southern NH)
Link to donate: https://community-crossroads-nh.networkforgood.com/projects/19359-everyday-giving
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.carrierfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Road, Windham, NH 03087.