GLENS FALLS | Joan Ann Blanchette, 81, of Regency Park Apartments, went into the arms of her savior Jesus Christ after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family Friday, March 4, 2016, at Glens Falls Hospital.

Born April 14, 1934, she was the daughter of the late George R. and Loretta N. (DeLorme) Toben.

Joan was a graduate of Whitehall High School in 1952, and Adirondack Community College; she was employed by the New York State Department of Corrections for many years, prior to her retirement.

She was a longtime member of Northway Christian Family Fellowship; she adored, and was adored by, her church family.

She loved spending time with her family and her church family, she had a lovely voice and used it to praise the Lord with abandon. She was known for her encouraging and loving personality; and always made her family and friends feel important and loved. She told her grandson Paul from his birth that he was "Fearfully and wonderfully made, by God".

Besides her parents, Joan was predeceased by her sister and brother in law, Joyce and Ted Rozell, and her husband Ernest Blanchette.

Left to cherish Joan's memory are her children, JoEllen DeLuca of Fort Ann, Anne Marie Caso and her husband Bill of New Jersey, her step children, Christopher Blanchette and his wife Jan, of Washington State; Tim Blanchette and his wife, Barbara, of Glens Falls, Daniel Blanchette of Putnam Station, and Anne Marie Rose Blanchette of Ticonderoga. She will also be missed dearly by her sister, Carole Mattison (Glen) of Fort Ann, her brother George H. Toben, of Granville, and her special friend, Paul Crossman of Rutland Vermont. Joan's memory will also be cherished by her grandchildren, Paul Martindale of Queensbury, Magyn Fuller (Brandon Manney) of Fort Ann, Maria Schaffer and her husband Andrew of Pennsylvania, and, Theresa, Elysa and Mikey Caso of New Jersey, her great grandchildren Nic Chapman of New Jersey, and Isabella Noelle Manney of Fort Ann. She will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews, step grandchildren and her large family of brothers and sisters in Christ.

There will be no calling hours; however, a time to celebrate Joan's life has been scheduled for 10AM on Tuesday at Northway Christian Family Church, 37 Homer Avenue, Queensbury, N.Y. with Pastor John Tether officiating.

Expressions of sympathy can be submitted through Baker Funeral Home, www.bakerfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joan may be made to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center, 102 Park St., Glens Falls, NY 12801.