Joan E. Ballard, 77, of Hurley

Joan E. Ballard, formerly of Walton and Highland, N.Y., died peacefully Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at her home with her loving family by her side. She was 77.

Ballard is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles Ballard, at home; a son, Dominick Logan, and his wife, Cassandra, of Kingston, N.Y.; daughter, Michelle Diliberto, and her husband, Michael, of New Canaan, Conn.; and three grandchildren: Logan Diliberto, Mattingly Logan and Drew Logan. She is also survived by a brother, Michael, his wife, Barbara, a niece and two nephews.

Ballard was born Joan Ellen Hresan on April 5, 1939, in Jersey City, N.J., the daughter of Michael and Johanna Hresan. A 1957 graduate of Somerville High School, N.J., she worked for many years at Fishkill Bowl and at Sears in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After moving to the Walton area, she worked at The ARC of Delaware County.

She will be remembered for her kindness to all animals, love of cheesecake, being a master Yahtzee player and her fondness for the colors purple and yellow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Babies Heart Fund, Columbia University Medical Center, 516 West 168th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, N.Y., 10032 (www.thebabiesheartfund.org) or to any local animal sanctuary.

The family will receive friends at the DiDonato Funeral Home, 1290 Route 9W, Marlboro, N.Y, on Friday, March 24, 2017, from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Middle Hope, N.Y.

The family wishes to extend a note of thanks to Judy Stein, Jill Zehnick, 5th Floor at Vassar Hospital, Hospice Care and Kingston Hospital for their care and kindness.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Carl J. DiDonato, Jr., of the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc. (845) 236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com