Obituary for Joan Eleanor McAndrews (Arnold)
Joan Eleanor (Arnold) McAndrews, 79, of Cambridge, New York, passed away at her home on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
Joan grew up in Hoosick Falls, New York and graduated from St. Mary‘s Academy in 1960, which was the last graduating high school class of the “old school”. As a teenager, Joan and her sister ran a tap and baton school for local children and they would perform in many parades and events. Joan also danced on television as part of a trio on the “Teen Age Barn” show, which was broadcasted in the Capital District area.
After Joan graduated from High School, she trained to be a hairdresser and operated her own beauty parlor located on Lower Classic Street in Hoosick Falls, New York, called the “Curly Q”, until she met her husband to be. Joan and Tom (from Adams, Massachusetts) married in February of 1964 and while on their honeymoon in New York City, they met the Beatles in the Peppermint Lounge, a story she always loved to share.
Joan and her husband lived in Berkshire County, Massachusetts for many years, raising their children primarily in Pittsfield, where she was a girl scout leader, a supporter of the Girl’s Club, a fundraiser for the Boy’s Club hockey program, as well as a Boy’s Club backer. Joan was also a medical assistant for Berkshire Hematology Oncology at Berkshire Medical Center, where she retired, leaving behind some very dear friends.
After retirement, Joan and her husband moved back to Hoosick Falls, New York and then eventually to Cambridge, New York, to be close to her grandchildren, where she was affectionately known as “Nana”. Joan volunteered at St. Mary’s Academy and was largely responsible for bringing back the school library, for which she enjoyed working endless hours on. At Cambridge Central School she was a CEO foster grandmother and she also organized the scholastic book programs for many years. Joan was a supporter of little league baseball, pee-wee football, youth cheerleading, 4-H and a huge fan of all of the Cambridge Indians sports programs. She also enjoyed traveling to Florida to attend her youngest grandson’s baseball tournaments.
Joan was predeceased by her parents, James Arnold and Marian (Ross) Arnold, a sister Jean Decker and a half-brother, Father René Robert. She is survived by her husband, Thomas McAndrews; daughter, Paula Meerwarth (Jack) of White Creek, New York; son, Shaun McAndrews (Linda) of Jacksonville, Florida; granddaughter, Mallary Acree (Brett) of Hoosick Falls, New York; grandson, Jacob Meerwarth of Saratoga Springs, New York; grandson, Garret McAndrews of Jacksonville, Florida; great granddaughter, Esmé Acree of Hoosick Falls, New York and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday January 21st, at 11:00 am from St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington, VT. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Faculty Association for the OSC Account, which helps provide winter hats and coats for children, through the funeral home.
Joan grew up in Hoosick Falls, New York and graduated from St. Mary‘s Academy in 1960, which was the last graduating high school class of the “old school”. As a teenager, Joan and her sister ran a tap and baton school for local children and they would perform in many parades and events. Joan also danced on television as part of a trio on the “Teen Age Barn” show, which was broadcasted in the Capital District area.
After Joan graduated from High School, she trained to be a hairdresser and operated her own beauty parlor located on Lower Classic Street in Hoosick Falls, New York, called the “Curly Q”, until she met her husband to be. Joan and Tom (from Adams, Massachusetts) married in February of 1964 and while on their honeymoon in New York City, they met the Beatles in the Peppermint Lounge, a story she always loved to share.
Joan and her husband lived in Berkshire County, Massachusetts for many years, raising their children primarily in Pittsfield, where she was a girl scout leader, a supporter of the Girl’s Club, a fundraiser for the Boy’s Club hockey program, as well as a Boy’s Club backer. Joan was also a medical assistant for Berkshire Hematology Oncology at Berkshire Medical Center, where she retired, leaving behind some very dear friends.
After retirement, Joan and her husband moved back to Hoosick Falls, New York and then eventually to Cambridge, New York, to be close to her grandchildren, where she was affectionately known as “Nana”. Joan volunteered at St. Mary’s Academy and was largely responsible for bringing back the school library, for which she enjoyed working endless hours on. At Cambridge Central School she was a CEO foster grandmother and she also organized the scholastic book programs for many years. Joan was a supporter of little league baseball, pee-wee football, youth cheerleading, 4-H and a huge fan of all of the Cambridge Indians sports programs. She also enjoyed traveling to Florida to attend her youngest grandson’s baseball tournaments.
Joan was predeceased by her parents, James Arnold and Marian (Ross) Arnold, a sister Jean Decker and a half-brother, Father René Robert. She is survived by her husband, Thomas McAndrews; daughter, Paula Meerwarth (Jack) of White Creek, New York; son, Shaun McAndrews (Linda) of Jacksonville, Florida; granddaughter, Mallary Acree (Brett) of Hoosick Falls, New York; grandson, Jacob Meerwarth of Saratoga Springs, New York; grandson, Garret McAndrews of Jacksonville, Florida; great granddaughter, Esmé Acree of Hoosick Falls, New York and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday January 21st, at 11:00 am from St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington, VT. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Faculty Association for the OSC Account, which helps provide winter hats and coats for children, through the funeral home.