DR. JOAN CUNNINGHAM

DR. JOAN (CAREY ) CUNNINGHAM - BENSON - Joan (Carey) Cunningham, 93, of Benson, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at her home with her family present. Joan was born in Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 22, 1922, daughter of Arthur Graham Carey and Elisabeth Foster Millet. She attended the University of Minnesota where she studied agriculture. Joan married Michael Cunningham, a Graphic Artist, from Rochester, N.Y., in 1944. In 1948, Joan and Michael realized a dream and created Trinity Farm where they managed a herd of registered Jersey cows. All her life, Joan was passionate about learning and educated herself in the sciences studying psychology, biology, astronomy and physics, to name a few. In pursuit of these interests, she traveled the world witnessing solar eclipses and riding camels in Jordan. And it cannot go unmentioned - she also played the drums! Joan had a profound interest in animal behavior, including her nine children. She had an uncanny ability to rescue and rehabilitate all manner of injured animals. There was no limit to her interests, from snails, snakes, bats and cats to horses, wolves, foxes and Afghan Hounds. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Everyone learned something fascinating from Joan. Joan was predeceased by her husband, Michael; brother, Christopher; and children, Tina and John. She is survived by her sisters, Hilda and Felicity; brother, John; stepmother, Nancy; and children, Maria, Stephen, Susan, Barbara, Annie, David, and Michael; 25 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Even in her declining years, she continued to seek knowledge and was a mentor to her children and everyone who knew her. A private funeral will be attended by her immediate family and a public memorial will be arranged in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Wolf Haven (www.wolfhaven.org/); or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).