Joan M. Carr

Joan M. (Leggett) Carr of Guilderland & Wilmington N.Y. passed away peacefully at home on August 14, 2024, at the age of 92. Joan was born and grew up in AuSable Forks, N.Y., the daughter of Harry J. and Mabel (Snow) Leggett. Joan was the youngest of their six children.

Joan married William J. (Bill) Carr in 1961. They were dedicated to each other and to their five children throughout their lives together, devoted in love and anchored by faith for nearly 46 years of marriage until Bill’s passing in 2007.  They shared a love of the Adirondacks, and many happy family gatherings were held at their home in Guilderland and their camp in Wilmington over the years. She and her family and friends enjoyed attending auctions where Joan was often the “closer,” quietly winning almost every contested bid. She also treasured canoe paddles on the AuSable River, endless swims and picnics on other beloved Adirondack rivers and lakes on long summer days, and travel to wonderful places.

Following high school in AuSable Forks, Joan graduated from the Loretta Business Institute in Plattsburgh. Her early professional life included work during the construction of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. While later raising five children, she served on the staff of Senator Kenneth P. LaValle in the New York State Senate. Joan was elected to several terms as a member of the Guilderland Board of Education, during which she served as vice chair. She also served many long days as a local election inspector. She was a prayerful communicant of the Parish of Christ the King in Guilderland for 55 years.

Joan was beloved by those who knew her. She had a love of ice cream sodas and hot fudge sundaes, cultivated while   a teenager working at a soda fountain in AuSable Forks. She could flutter her eyelashes, made innumerable sandwiches for her kids’ school lunches, cheered for her children and grandchildren at an equally uncountable number of ball games, concerts, plays and graduations and loved good books and good movies (with popcorn, of course).  Gifted with a green thumb, many plants and gardens flourished under her care and imagination. Renowned for her apple pies, chocolate cakes and most anything else from her kitchen, she also loved a hot dog - especially a “Michigan” in Plattsburgh. She was cherished for her intellect, wisdom, grace, quiet humor, creativity, vivacious smile, glorious red hair, glorious snowy white hair and exceptional kindness to all.  And never truer than in Joan’s case was this proverb: that perfect love came upon the birth of her grandchildren.  Joan was the heartbeat of her clan and made anywhere they gathered a home for any and all.

Survivors include her loving children, James (Catherine) Carr of Albany, William (Lisa Seypura) Carr of Altamont, Mary Frances Carr of Albany, Thomas (Tina) Carr of Peru, and John Carr of Altamont; her two treasured and loving grandchildren, Brendan Carr and Averil Carr; as well as many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and steadfast friends.  In addition to her husband Bill, she was also predeceased by her siblings, Harry, Ralph, Ruth, Helen, and Bud, all of whom she loved dearly.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, August 20 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5148 Western Ave, Guilderland, N.Y. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 21 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ the King, 20 Sumter Ave. in Albany (Guilderland), N.Y. Burial will be held privately by the family in the Adirondacks. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan's memory to the E. M. Cooper Memorial Public Library in Wilmington, N.Y. or the Guilderland Food Pantry in Guilderland, N.Y. would be most welcome.