Joan M. Park

PARK, Joan Marie (nee Hirons), passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the age of 84. Joan was born on May 30, 1934 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to the late Hugh B. Hirons and Erma (Hofmann) Hirons. She was raised by her widowed mother and grew up in Ft. Wayne and Southern Ohio as part of a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. Joan attended St. Patrick’s grade school, Central Catholic high school and graduated from the then St. Francis College (now the University of St. Francis) in 1956 with a BS degree in Education. She taught briefly in Ft. Wayne Community Schools before her marriage in 1957 to Walter Park. Her husband’s employment in defense and space programs took them to Orange County, CA in 1959 where Joan taught for many years in their parish school, St. Cecilia’s in Tustin and later as a substitute teacher in the Tustin school district. She was preceded in death by her father in 1940, her mother in 1990 and her husband of 38 years in 1995. She is survived by her beloved children Sara Juteau and Jason (Adrienne) Park and her grandchildren Zackery and Hannah Juteau, Colleen and Molly Park. Joan returned to her mid-western roots in 2006 where she lived near her daughter’s family in Liberty Township, OH and attended St. Maximilian Kolbe Church. Family and teaching were Joan’s passions. She enjoyed keeping in touch with the many friends she had made through the years via letters, e-mails and phone. She treasured family reunions and enjoyed the changing seasons, reading (especially book club discussions), puzzles, computer games and T.V. Services will be private. Memorials may be made to University of St. Francis or to Hospice of Hamilton.