Joan Mary Waly-Schultz

She was born to the late Donald Lutovsky and Eleanor Ehorn on June 26th, 1952 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was one of five children and grew up in Mequon, Wisconsin. She graduated from Homestead High School and pursued a nursing degree, studying first on the East Coast. She later moved to Denver, where she had adventures in the Rocky Mountains, and finally settled back in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she met her husband, Gamal Waly.

She married Gamal in 1983, and they went on to have three children: two twin daughters, Alia and Sara, and one son, Jordan. She loved her children fiercely and was an immensely positive force of nature in their lives, always offering praise and encouragement and supporting them in their studies and pursuits.

Her own studies had to be put on hold when she became pregnant with her children and when she became sick with her first bout of breast cancer at age 38. Throughout that incredibly difficult, but successful battle, she never wavered in her determination to finish her nursing degree, which she completed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In her over 20 years as a nurse, her dedication to her work and the quality of care she exhibited toward her patients earned her praise, the respect of her colleagues, and a position as the head of hospice at a home health agency in Wisconsin before she retired.

Joan divorced Gamal in 1999. She married her second husband, Michael Schultz, in 2007. Shortly before she retired, she moved with Michael to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. She was in love with her new home and life and stayed in North Carolina even after her divorce from Michael in 2019.

Joan loved to help others; this was evident in everything she did. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time, later in her career, and the treatment resulted in heart failure, meaning that she could no longer work, she didn’t let this deter her. She threw her energy into helping the community by completing a Master Gardener program and volunteering. She also loved the outdoors and took every opportunity she could to experience the world around her. She hiked extensively and loved to travel and explore new cities. She also loved to visit her family and spend time with her children and grandchildren.

When her heart became increasingly weaker, she became more involved in pottery and felting, which was a particular passion of hers. She completed a heart transplant at the age of 65, which allowed her to continue to pursue her hobbies and interests. She was always pushing the limits of what others thought were possible. Her strong spirit and love of life always propelled her forward.

She held many roles during her life, but the ones she will most be remembered for, by her immediate family, were those of mother and grandmother. Her love and support for her family was unconditional and felt at every moment, whether she was near or far. Her love changed and shaped their lives. She will be with them, always.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Eleanor. She is survived by her daughters Alia and Sara, her son Jordan, her grandsons Lucas and Asher, her granddaughter Mia, her brothers Donald and Mark, and her sisters Kathleen and Terry.

A wake will be held Tuesday, November 19th at 11AM at Apex Funeral Home at 550 W. Williams St. Apex, NC 27502. A memorial service will follow. The memorial service will be live streamed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c24116650357163 .