Joan L. Russell

Joan Lordan Russell, 90, a long-time Winter Park resident, passed away suddenly in Jacksonville on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Joan was born on January 1, 1930, in Philadelphia, PA to her loving parents, William and Madeleine Lordan. Joan was a 1947 graduate of West Catholic High School. She met her husband, Tom, on a blind date and they married on November 1, 1952.

Joan devoted her life to Tom and their six children. Although Joan grew up in Philadelphia, she spent the last 54 years living in Winter Park. Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She enjoyed reading and sudoku games, taking morning walks with her daughters in her neighborhood, and attending her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s school and sporting events. For many years Joan was an active member of the Woman’s Club of Winter Park. Joan was a Roman Catholic and practiced her faith at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Tom, her parents and her four brothers, Jack, Bill, Jim and Bob.

Joan is survived by her six children, Mary Polster (Ken) of Orlando, Thomas Jr. (partner Deb Bell) of Winter Park, Ann Waltz of Tallahassee, Joe (Debbie) of Maitland, Patty Dame (Joe) of Palatka, and Susan Acquaviva (Paul) of Newburyport, MA. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren (Tony Polster; Alisha Norton and Lauren Russell; Katherine McCurley; Joey, Tim, Nolan, and Nora Russell; Sarah Surrency, Joanna Feagan, and Tommy Dame; Caroline, Nick, Sam, and Will Acquaviva, and 10 great-grandchildren (Harper, JP, Reese, Trip, Ryan, Natalie, Max, Jordan, Grant, and Miles), a special sister-in-law, Marie Lordan, many beloved nieces, nephews, and other family members and special friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ‪St. Margaret ‬Mary Catholic Church on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at 10 AM. Social distancing and face masks are required. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Woman’s Club of Winter Park Scholarship Endowment Fund, ‪P.O. Box 1433, Winter Park, FL 32790-1433‬.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.