Joan K. Serafin, 81, of Fredonia, passed away Thursday (November 29, 2012) after courageously battling a lengthy illness.
Born August 26, 1931 to Joseph and Johanna (Karabin) Kaminski of Dunkirk, Joan attended Villa Maria College in Buffalo to obtain a degree in hotel management, before going on to further studies at Hotel-Motel Management of Jacksonville, Fla.
Besides being a mother of seven, Joan was employed by Hilton Corp. as an executive housekeeper, in Marietta, Ga., as well as an apartment manager for Wynterbrooke, in Hamburg, N.Y.
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Joan K. Serafin
She was a member of the Blessed Mary Angela Holy Rosary Society and a former member of St. Hyacinth's Holy Rosary Society. She also was a frequent volunteer at the St. Hyacinth Summer Festival.
Joan was very involved in the St. Hyacinth's Parents Club, while also helping the sisters by giving them rides to Buffalo. She also played the snare drum for Murray Hose Co. No. 4's Drum and Bugle Corps, and enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family.
Joan is survived by children Victoria (Paul) Jakiela, Diane (Bill) Cox, Jay (Barbara) Serafin, Mark Serafin, Yolanda Elliott-Preston (Ethan Pres-ton), Timothy (Tammy) Serafin, and Jill (Howard) Rager; sisters Elaine Terese, Noama Gallagher, Gloria Pochylski, and Alicia (David) Stayman), and brother Donald (Charlotte) Kaminski.
Besides her children, sisters and brother, Joan is survived by 15 grandchil-dren, 22 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Lenore Jakiela (Gib Snyder III), Jeanette (Daniel) Adamczak, Bernard Jakiela (Mindi Davis), Deborah Thomas (Dennis Clark), Melissa (Bud) Elliott, Sarah Elliott (Jack Vickers), Jerrod (Ashley) Serafin, Will (Gayle) Scott III and Amber (Brett) Kuhlman). Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
She was predeceased by her parents, infant sister Ellen Kaminski, and infant grandchildren Shawn Cox, John Cox, John G. Serafin and Wendy Serafin.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call at the R. Mackowiak Funeral Home Inc., 56 East Doughty Street in Dunkirk on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Mon-day at 9:30 a.m. at Blessed Mary Angela Parish Church of St. Hyacinth. Flowers are gratefully accepted and can be sent to the Funeral Home. However, in lieu of flowers, donations to help defray the costs of funeral expenses, will also be gratefully accepted by the family and may be made out to Victoria Jakiela.
