Joan E. Alward, 77, of Raleigh, N.C.
Joan E. Alward (Slater), 77, of Raleigh, passed away peacefully at her home after a long illness, surrounded by her family, on Sept. 9, 2017.
Joan was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother.
She was born in Kingston, N.Y., to the late Robert A. Slater and Edith Slater Clark.
Joan was a graduate of Kingston High School, Class of 1957. After graduating, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a secretary and model. In 1959, she returned to Kingston to marry Robert C. Alward. Joan worked with The American Red Cross in Kingston for a few years prior to working in the home as a wife and mother in Hurley, N.Y. While in Hurley, Joan was very active in genealogy and was involved in the historic preservation of Hurley’s contribution to the State of New York’s history. She was the founding secretary of the Hurley Heritage Society and later served as president. In the 1980s, after relocating to Raleigh, N.C., with her family, Joan became a successful real estate agent.
Joan is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert C. Alward of Raleigh; her children, Lynn A. (Joseph) Murphy of Raleigh, Scott R. (Christine) Alward of Littleton, Colo.; sister; Patricia A. (Donald) Perry of Kingston, N.Y.; grandchildren, Benjamin of Raleigh, Skylar and Tristan of Littleton, Colo.; as well as six nieces and three nephews and many great- and great-greatnieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert A. Slater Jr.
Her care has been entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27612. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at Mitchell Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Transition LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, N.C. 27607.
Joan’s family would like to thank her caregivers over the last two years, especially Lori, Cynthia, and Miranda. Condolences may be sent to www.MitchellatRMP.com.