Joan Katherine Griffith, former surname Karazusky, born March 31, 1932 in Wilkes Barre, passed peacefully and quietly on Father's Day June 17, 2018 to join her beloved husband Jay Alan Griffith, who predeceased her on June 10, 2001.  Born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Joan was the daughter of the late Peter and Helen (Kubert) Karazusky.

A 1949 graduate of Hanover High School in Wilkes Barre, Joan met the "one and only love of her life", "her Jay" in their sophomore year of high school.  Joan went on to graduate from Wilkes Barre General Hospital in 1952 with a degree in nursing.  Joan enjoyed an extensive career in nursing beginning with obstetrics at Wilkes Barre General Hospital from 1952 through 1956.

On May 30, 1956, Joan and Jay were married and moved to Washington D.C. where her late husband was stationed with the United States Army and Joan was employed at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland with specialized care of cystic fibrosis patients.

In 1959, Joan and Jay returned to the Lehigh Valley and Joan continued her nursing career in emergency medicine at Warren Hospital until 1970. In 1970 until 1994 her nursing career concentrated in ophthalmology with her final employer, David G. Jones, M.D., of Allentown.

In 1994 Joan retired from nursing to care for her dearly loved and cherished grandchildren, Trevor Ryan and Olivia Paige.  Joan was known as "Gaga" to her grandchildren and many other children who came to know her as their adoptive grandmother. Trevor and Olivia were, and always will be, the brightest stars in Joan's heart and soul.  She gave endlessly to them as small children taking them to activities, participating with them in school trips, and always being available for any life crisis or just a great big hug.  She was so proud of all their accomplishments and a wise advisor during times when Trevor and Olivia had growing pains.

In 1959, Joan gave birth to her only child, a daughter, Elissa Joan (Griffith) Waldron.  During her lifetime Elissa and Joan shared the most remarkable relationship of mother and daughter. Despite life's tribulations and turmoil's, there was always more fun, laughter, joy, and love shared between them in all aspects of their lives together.  From cooking, to entertaining, to travel, to endless trips to New York City to the theater, the most recent of which was October 2017 to see "Hello Dolly", and how proud she was of her brother-in-law Santo Loquasto's scenic and costume designs on Broadway, and that she shared those accomplishments with her daughter and grandchildren.

During her lifetime with her late husband Jay and daughter Elissa, they shared many fabulous moments, including international travel, theater, golf, and endless Penn State football seasons with Joan's brother and wife in State College, Pennsylvania. "We are!" Music was a significant aspect of their lives together, especially classical, jazz, violin, cello, guitar, and Sunday mornings with Frank Sinatra.

So many people touched Joan's life and in turn she touched theirs leaving a compassionate and generous impression.  To all those who frequented "Joan's Beach", you know how priceless those summers were, splashing, laughing, and enjoying all the children who learned to swim at "Joan's Beach".  Joan will never forget Patrick Brogle, the master griller, for feeding all of us and especially rescuing Joan's poodle, Nougat, from the swimming pool.

Joan was an active member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  She was a volunteer at Assumption Preschool for many years and known to her preschoolers as " Miss Joan ".  No funny business with " Miss Joan" but yet a warm and affectionate hug with open arms to the children.

Joan has lived with deep faith in God and with devotion to prayer. Always next to her sofa and bed were Joan's favorite Novenas of St. Jude, Mary, St. Anthony, the Infant of Prague, and the Legend of St. Joseph.

Joan remembers her beloved Aunt Rita (Setcavage) and her daughters, Caryn and Tina, and Elissa, sharing summer after summer of family vacations at Joan's "First Beach" at Charles Street in Easton.  It was a "girls summer party" with swimming, staying up late, Pete's hotdogs, watching Miss Universe and Miss America, eating banana splits, and Joan's favorite sundae, CMP'S, and belly ache laughing until we cried.

Joan was a true romantic and an avid reader of romance novels and enjoyed oil painting, concentrating on nature.  Her Lithuanian heritage was well known to many friends as she had many requests for her "Lazy Cheese Dumplings" sautéed in Vidalia onions and butter. They were truly a labor of love taking hours to cook, and minutes to be enjoyed by so many.

Joan was a dog aficionado, specifically standard poodles, but had open arms for other breeds as well.  She adored and was adored by her "pack of fur babies" and will be missed by all of them including Dubonnet, Chauvenet, Lord Cromwell, Beaumont, Nougat, Snickers, Pretty Girl Pearl, Bronson, Noel, and Oliver.

Her former residence, shared with her husband, was in Saucon Valley, where she resided from 1987 to 2006 when she moved with her daughter and grandchildren to Allentown.  Joan moved then to County Meadows of Allentown in late 2017.

Her time at Country Meadows was truly enhanced by a sincere love and dignity she was shown by all her caregivers.  Joan suffered terribly from rheumatoid arthritis, significantly in the last ten years of her life, whereby she lost many of her physical capabilities.  Despite those physically struggles, Joan never lost her wit, keen sense of humor, panache and style, and always donning her favorite perfume, " Crepe de Chine", knowledge of world affairs, American politics.

Most cherished by her daughter was her appreciation for family and her constant appreciation of the kindness to her from family and friends throughout her life.  Joan's endless giving, without expectation is the most valuable gift she taught her daughter. She will be forever missed by family and all who met her acquaintance.

Joan was predeceased by her brother, Dr. Richard P. Karas, in 1993; her granddaughter, Emily Elizabeth Waldron, in 1994; and her mother-in-law, Ruth D. Loquasto (Davis), in 2004.

Survivors: daughter, Elissa Griffith Waldron, Esquire, of Allentown; grandchildren, Trevor and Olivia Waldron, of Allentown; brother-in-law, Santo Loquasto, of New York City; sister-in-law, Rosemary P. Karas-Johnson, wife of Lanny Johnson, of State College; maternal aunt, Rita Setcavage, of Pittsburgh; cousins Jack and Rita Kubert, Caryn Siegfried and Tina Dial: nieces Jennifer Myers (Karas), Mich; longtime friend, Al Jones, of Macungie; nieces, Jennifer Meyers (Karas) and Michelle Karas; nephew, Rick Karas; Gerry, longtime friends Gerry, Tracey, Janet, Millie, Kristin, Roey, Deb, Jill, Elaine, and Angie, and many other friends.

Services: Calling hours: 6pm to 8pm on Friday June 22, 2018 at the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  From 9am to 10am on Saturday June 23, 2018 will be an additional calling hour in the church. Between 10am and 11am remembrances for Joan will be offered prior to the Funeral Mass which will begin at 11am. Monsignor John J. Martin will officiate the Mass. A Christian burial will follow the service at Resurrection Cemetery, 531 North Krocks Road, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104.  Contributions: in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Leigh Valley (PCFLV) 25 W. 3 ^rd St. Bethlehem PA, 18015 and/or the Poodle Rescue – Poodle Club of America Lehigh Valley Chapter  at poodleclubofthelehighvalley.com