Joan M. Brownell, 78, of Laurys Station, died on Oct. 10, 2021, in Lehigh Valley Hospital Inpatient Hospice, Allentown.

Born Jan. 27, 1943, in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Godfried Thomas and Minnie (Lauf) Thomas.

She and her husband, Richard E. Brownell, shared 58 years of marriage on Nov. 17, 2020.

A 1965 graduate of East Stroudsburg State Teacher’s College, from which she earned a Bachelor’s degree in education, she furthered her education earning a Master’s degree in education from Kutztown State Teachers College in 1970.

She was last employed by the Northampton Area School District as a first grade teacher at Lehigh Elementary School for 15 years before retiring in 2002.

Before that, she and her husband co-owned and directed Little People Day Care, Allentown, from 1978-85.

She was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Egypt, Whitehall.

She served as a former counselor at Camp Mosey Wood Girl Scout Camp, Lake Harmony, for many years.

She was a certified massage therapist, and Reiki Master.

As a wife, mom, grandmother (Mama), teacher, artist, healer, traveler, friend, and more, she was always 100 percent herself, loved generously, and lived life to the fullest. There will never be another like her.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Susan B., wife of Wayne Robinson, of Hampton, N.J. and Jayne E. Brownell of Oxford, Ohio; sister Shannon, wife of Richard Delp of Gilbertsville; and granddaughters Elise and Emma.

Memorial contributions may be made to friends of Acadia / Acadia National Park c/o the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered to the family at schislerfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home, Northampton.