Joan Ewig Neary

Joan E. Neary of 557 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn died Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at Long Island College Hospital. She was 76. She was born in Kingston, New York on July 1, 1932, a daugher of the late Arthur and Mahnya Seidlin Ewig. A 1949 graduate of Kingston High School, Mrs. Neary then attended Carnegie Tech University in Pennsylvania and received her BFA from Columbia University in New York City. She subsequently received an MA in Special Education. Her first husband, Lewis S. Wechsler, and father of her children, died a few years ago. She married Laurence Neary in 1978, who passed away 2 years ago. Mrs. Neary was a devoted mother to Zachary Wechsler and Hilary Wechsler Gibson. Her family grew to include Zachary's wife and children, Michelle Powell Wechsler and their two children Adam Michael and Miranda Elizabeth living in Los Angeles, California, and Hilary's husband, William Francis Gibson, and their son, Edward Jonathan who live in Westport, Connecticut. Her loving sister, Barbara Ronder still lives in Kingston with her husband, Charles Ronder. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Neary is remembered for her endless compassion, insight and energy which she shared readily with all who she so openly embraced - her family, her friends, colleagues, and the people who she met on her travels. She will be remembered with love by all who were fortunate to know her. She loved life's adventures...whether climbing Machu Picchu, treking in Nepal, biking through Europe, or visiting Mexican villages and living amongst the artists. Her greatest adventures, however, were those right at home, sharing with her family and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Avenue, Kingston on Friday at 1:00 PM. Interment will be in Montrepose Cemetery. In support of her granddaughter Miranda, memorial contributions may be made to the Pediatric HEMONC Division, # 216620, Cedars Sinai Hospital, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.