Joan (Carlson) Fredericks

Joan Carlson Fredericks, 92, of Guilderland, died Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. She was born March 25, 1925 in Duluth, Minnesota, to Edwin and Elmyra Carlson. Joan (pron. “Joanne”) was a 1947 graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received a Masters degree in education from Northwestern University. She met Julius “Joe” Fredericks of Canajoharie, NY while working at Cornell University. They were married in 1959, then settled near Delhi, NY, where she lived for forty years. Joan was very involved in the community, including Second Presbyterian Church (United Ministry), Village Improvement Society, League of Woman Voters and Delhi Senior Meals. She also served on the boards of Delaware Academy and Central School, O’Connor Hospital, and the West Kortright Center. From 1999 to 2016, she lived at Coburg Village in Rexford, NY where she was active in establishing a number of programs for community members. Survivors include her sister Elizabeth (Franklin) Kilgore of DeKalb, Illinois, son Peter and grandchildren Matthew, Samuel and Sydney of Slingerlands, and son Carl (Becky Rehl) of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Joan was preceded in death by her husband in 1993 and by her daughter-in-law Sharon Fredericks in 2010. Joan was a vibrant, compassionate woman who loved the outdoors, especially the lakes of northern Minnesota and the Adirondacks. Her flower gardens were always colorful and she enjoyed sharing them with family, friends, and the birds everywhere she lived. Memorial contributions may be made to The United Ministry of Delhi, 1 Church St., Delhi NY 13753 or the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, PO Box 65, Keene Valley NY 12943. A memorial service will be held at a later date.