Joan K. Hawkins
Joan K. Hawkins of Hermitage, formerly of Gibsonia and Hopewell Township, passed away peacefully at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Visiting Nurses Association Inpatient Hospice, Butler. She was 48.
Joan was born Nov. 2, 1963, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Thomas R. and Janice E. Oswald Hawkins. She was a member of Hickory High School's Class of 1981.
Ms. Hawkins battled cancer for more than a decade with multiple complications that she fought by her own research and with medical help. She developed a homeopathic system to ward off some off the effects of osteonecrosis, a side effect of chemotherapy and dental work. She avidly pursued the use of organic food and the affect of toxic chemicals in the environment.
Earlier, Joan was employed by Computer Associates in Pittsburgh in marketing as a global software product manager traveling across the United States and Europe.
After graduation from Indiana (Pa.) University in 1986, with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History/Museology, she started her career at the Concord Art Association, in Concord, Mass., as assistant curator/director. Later, she lived in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, working with the tourist industry for a short time. She did graduate work at Penn State University, then was hired by Computer Associates.
Joan was actively pursuing family history and geology, plant lore and homeopathic medicine during her long illness. She had an active Facebook following who helped sustain her during her illness.
Joan had a great love of her family, nephews and nieces, her Border Collie, Freya, and the outdoors. She was an avid reader of history and loved to cook specialty Middle Eastern and central European foods. She will be sorely missed.
Surviving are her parents, Dr. Thomas R. Hawkins and Janice E. Hawkins of Hermitage; her brothers, James T. Hawkins of Cincinnati, Michael T. Hawkins of Placentia, Calif., and Mark C. Hawkins of Fullerton, Calif.; and her sister, Suzanne E. Hawkins, of Raleigh, N.C. She also is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
Joan's family would like to thank the kind people from the Visiting Nurses Association and her three close friends, Bonnie Moore, Denny Hespenheid and Laurie Passione.
HAWKINS — Calling hours for Joan K. Hawkins, who passed away Thursday, May 17, 2012, will be from 10:30 a.m. until the 11:30 a.m. memorial Mass on Thursday in the Church of Notre Dame, 2325 Highland Road, Hermitage, and immediately following the services in Notre Dame School, where a memorial luncheon will be held. The Rev. Edward J. Zeitler, senior associate, will be celebrant.Inurnment will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Cheswick.Her family suggests that anyone wishing to make a memorial donation in her memory to please consider the VNA, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, Pa 16001.Arrangements are entrusted to J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Sharon.
