Joan Elizabeth O’Bryan, age 66, of Phoenix, passed away on Monday, November 16, 2020 in Phoenix, AZ after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. She was born on March 9, 1954 to the late David Elmer and Charlotte Mary (Brace) Hastings in Washington, IN. She graduated from Washington High School in 1972 where she was Valedictorian of her class, and she graduated with Distinction from Purdue University in 1974 with an AAS in Nursing. On June 30, 1973 she married William Eugene O’Bryan in Washington, IN. They had a marriage full of love, laughter, and joy.
Joan worked as an RN in multiple capacities, as a Church Secretary, and as a Preschool Office Manager in addition to spending many years as a devoted stay-at-home mother. Joan was active in church all her life, most recently at Cross in the Desert United Methodist Church where she volunteered in numerous capacities. Many of her activities involved children and crafts. Joan’s creative nature shined while sewing, knitting, and making a wide variety of crafts. She found a passion for ballroom dancing and beamed with joy as she danced and performed with her husband.
She is survived by her three loving children and their spouses, Amy (Todd) Bender, Alan (Alissa) O’Bryan, and John (Kaitlyn) O’Bryan and one devoted grandchild, Ethan Bender. She is survived by siblings Jim Hastings and Laura Gault.
Private services with the family and interment will be at Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary. Details on streaming of the services are below.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cross in the Desert United Methodist Church, to a charity of your choice, or to the family’s charitable account which will totally be used in Joan’s memory. Please see details below.
Please tune in to her services on Saturday November 28, 2020 by going to FACEBOOK.com and searching Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary where her Celebration of Life will be livestreamed starting at 2:00 p.m.
Dear Family or Friend:
Thank you for your interest in supporting our family charitable fund. We intend to use this to make ongoing and/or a larger charitable contribution in memory of Joan that would relate to her passions of teaching children, children’s health, dancing, and/or perhaps to cancer research or support groups.
Proceeds will be contributed to O’Bryan Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable.* If you wish to contribute, please note the requirements below.**
Family and friends have meant so much to Joan over the years. We appreciate your love, prayers, and support during this difficult time. Please feel no obligation after asking for this information. Again, if you prefer, please feel free to contribute to a charity of your choice in memory of Joan.
Thank you,
* O’Bryan Family Charitable Fund is a donor-advised fund, maintained and operated by its sponsoring organization, Schwab Charitable, for the purpose of granting out to eligible charities. Contributions to O’Bryan Family Charitable Fund are irrevocable and subject to the exclusive legal authority and control of Schwab Charitable.
** The minimum contribution that will be accepted from a third party into this account is $50. Third party or honorary contributions will be accepted into this account for up to two years (November 18, 2022). Any contributions by a third party must include the third party’s name and address for the third party to receive a Schwab Charitable acknowledgement for tax reporting purposes. Make Checks payable to “Schwab Charitable” and in the Memo line state “O’Bryan Family Charitable Fund”. Please also let us know that you have contributed to ensure that we may acknowledge your generosity.
Mail checks to: Schwab Charitable, P.O. Box 628298, Orlando, FL 32862
“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.”
― Rumi
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