Obituary for Joan Hunter Pudvan
Joan Hunter Pudvan passed away Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the age of 92.
Joan was born Jan. 24, 1931, to Lillian and William Hunter in Minneapolis, Minn.
She grew up with her older brother, Bill, in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Prospect Park, home to many professors from the University of Minnesota. Her father taught chemistry at the “U” and Joan graduated from there with a degree in social work. She loved to reminisce about her beloved Prospect Park days.
Joan met her husband, William Pudvan, at Grinnell College her freshman year and they married in Minneapolis in 1953, while Bill was doing a medical internship at Minneapolis General Hospital. Joan worked as a case worker for Children’s Services in Minnesota’s Hennepin County during the early days of her marriage before she and Bill moved to Ohio in 1954. Bill established his medical practice in Willoughby, where he and Joan would raise four children. An incredible mom, Joan would always say she cherished those days in Willoughby, raising her family and working for the Children’s Services Division in Lake County, once her family grew older.
Never afraid to tackle new challenges, Joan returned to her roots, Minneapolis, in 1975. There, she re-united with her lifelong friends, “the sexy six,” as they called themselves back in the day. They were a force to be reckoned with! From Minneapolis, she moved to San Diego, Calif., where at the age of 55, she earned a master’s degree and a license in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. She began a fulfilling career at the Salvation Army Door of Hope, where she worked until her retirement.
Joan returned to Ohio in 2003, settling in Eastlake for many years. She was classy, pretty, curious, smart, proud, brave, accomplished, a wonderful role model and loving. She used the computer until the age of 91, had a postcard store on eBay which was the envy of all collectors, spent hours researching family ancestry, and she self-published a book on her days in her beloved Prospect Park. The Minnesota Historical Society still retains a copy today. Despite all Joan accomplished in her life, her most prized title was that of “mom.” She loved her family fiercely, never missing an opportunity to tell them so; they loved her back just as fiercely, were so proud of her and will miss her terribly.
Joan is survived by her children, Linda (Ralph) Richter, Susan Watkins, Michael Pudvan, and Karie (Jenn) Lindsay; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.
The family will receive friends at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Abbey of Willoughby, 38011 Euclid Ave. (located on the grounds of McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home) in Willoughby. Refreshments will immediately follow the service in the lower level of The Abbey.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Joan's name be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192 or at www.hospicewr.org.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
Joan was born Jan. 24, 1931, to Lillian and William Hunter in Minneapolis, Minn.
She grew up with her older brother, Bill, in the Minneapolis neighborhood of Prospect Park, home to many professors from the University of Minnesota. Her father taught chemistry at the “U” and Joan graduated from there with a degree in social work. She loved to reminisce about her beloved Prospect Park days.
Joan met her husband, William Pudvan, at Grinnell College her freshman year and they married in Minneapolis in 1953, while Bill was doing a medical internship at Minneapolis General Hospital. Joan worked as a case worker for Children’s Services in Minnesota’s Hennepin County during the early days of her marriage before she and Bill moved to Ohio in 1954. Bill established his medical practice in Willoughby, where he and Joan would raise four children. An incredible mom, Joan would always say she cherished those days in Willoughby, raising her family and working for the Children’s Services Division in Lake County, once her family grew older.
Never afraid to tackle new challenges, Joan returned to her roots, Minneapolis, in 1975. There, she re-united with her lifelong friends, “the sexy six,” as they called themselves back in the day. They were a force to be reckoned with! From Minneapolis, she moved to San Diego, Calif., where at the age of 55, she earned a master’s degree and a license in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. She began a fulfilling career at the Salvation Army Door of Hope, where she worked until her retirement.
Joan returned to Ohio in 2003, settling in Eastlake for many years. She was classy, pretty, curious, smart, proud, brave, accomplished, a wonderful role model and loving. She used the computer until the age of 91, had a postcard store on eBay which was the envy of all collectors, spent hours researching family ancestry, and she self-published a book on her days in her beloved Prospect Park. The Minnesota Historical Society still retains a copy today. Despite all Joan accomplished in her life, her most prized title was that of “mom.” She loved her family fiercely, never missing an opportunity to tell them so; they loved her back just as fiercely, were so proud of her and will miss her terribly.
Joan is survived by her children, Linda (Ralph) Richter, Susan Watkins, Michael Pudvan, and Karie (Jenn) Lindsay; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.
The family will receive friends at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Abbey of Willoughby, 38011 Euclid Ave. (located on the grounds of McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home) in Willoughby. Refreshments will immediately follow the service in the lower level of The Abbey.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Joan's name be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192 or at www.hospicewr.org.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.