Joan M. Harsen

Joan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 19, 1931 to Marion and Charles Collins. She learned early on to love fairies from her beloved Grandmother. 

She married the love of her life, Edward Harsen and raised four children in Bay Shore. They also fostered 14 young children to give them a loving start in life. When her children were grown, she worked as a Dietary Supervisor Consolation Residence on Long Island. She retired to Queensbury, NY, and The Beverwyck in Slingerlands.

She is predeceased by her siblings:  Richard (Jane ) and Marion (Ronald); her daughter, Eileen Hitter; her daughter-in-law Jeanine, and her husband Edward. 

She leaves behind her children: Dorothy DiFranco (Richard), Joan Baron (James), Edward (Lynn Compton), and her son-in-law, Thomas Hitter (Rebecca DeGroff). She will also be missed by her ten grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. 

Joan died peacefully on November 23, 2024, in the care of hospice and the loving care of the staff of the memory care unit of Loudonville ALR.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her graveside service on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Loudonville Assisted Living Residence Attn: Memory Care Unit, 298 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211 or to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 1003 Loudon Rd, Cohoes, NY 12047.