Obituary of Joan Synnett

Joan Synnett Mrs. Joan Synnett, loving wife, mother, and grandmother passed away on January 18, 2008, in Denton, Texas, nearby to the home of her eldest son Jeffrey W. Synnett. Joan was born on June 4, 1934, in Poughkeepsie, NY, to the late Fred and Bertha Dahlem, and grew up and spent much of her adult life in the Hudson Valley of New York state. Joan was married on September 24, 1955, to her wonderful late husband William T. Synnett in Poughkeepsie, NY, and remained married until his untimely death on July 23, 1992. Joan and Bill made their home in Wappingers Falls, NY, where they raised four surviving children. Once their children were grown, Joan and Bill moved to Concord, NC, in 1991, where Joan lived until late last year, when illness forced her to move. Joan was an accomplished graduate of Wappingers Central (High) School in Wappingers Falls, NY, and received a scholarship to attend the esteemed Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, but opted to marry and raise a family. However, once her children were grown and while still living in the Hudson Valley, Joan became a valuable employee of the Wappingers School District, and then the IBM Federal Credit Union. But Joan's real love, aside from her family was antiques, and Joan managed a successful antique business in Concord, NC from 1993 until 2007. Joan's knowledge of antiques, combined with her warm personality, made her antique shop on Union Street in Concord, NC, a favorite with both customers and colleagues alike. But far more important than her work, Joan was a truly devoted mother and grandmother. The love and concern Joan placed on her four children and eight grandchildren was never-ending. Just a brief example was this past Christmas, less then one month ago, when Joan sent gifts to all her children and grandchildren all throughout the United States (as she did each and every year), even though her illness made it nearly impossible for her to even walk to her mail box. Joan was also a devoted Roman Catholic, and a member of the St. James Catholic Church in Concord, NC, and previously a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wappingers Falls, NY. Surviving Joan are her children and grandchildren, son Jeffrey W. Synnett, his wife Karen Synnett, and their children Allison and Brad, all of Denton, Texas, son Robert J. Synnett, his wife Therese Synnett, and their sons Robert W., Conor, and Joseph, all of Columbia, SC, daughter Carol Wagner, and her daughter Lexie, each of Double Oak, Texas, and daughter Diane Hillerich, her husband Robert Hillerich, and their children Andrew and Claire, all of Saugerties, NY. Joan is also survived by a brother Jerry Dahlem, of North Port, FL, a sister Nete Brokx, of Severna Park, MD, and a sister Bernice Dolan, of Albany, NY. In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by a sister, Theresa Shattle of Poughkeepsie, NY. Funeral Services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Wappingers Falls, NY, at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2008. The family will greet friends from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at the Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls, NY. Joan will be missed and remembered each and every day by all of her loving family.