About
Joan Chapman Obituary
ROCHESTER, NY - September 4, 2025 at age 82. Joan is predeceased by her parents James Stahmer Chapman and Eva Lisowski. She is survived by daughters Joan M. Mazur and Hannelore E. Heredia, and grandchildren:Derek, Tekla and Meredith Mazur. Joan had a great passion for music. She joined the Rochester Piano Teachers Guild in 1958 at 16 years old and taught piano for over 6 decades both privately and for the Rochester City School District. Joan graduated from John Marshall HS in 1960, and attended Roberts Wesleyan College, then Nazareth College where she received a BA in Music and 2 decades later, an MA in Education. Joan played piano at First Unitarian Church of Rochester which she later joined in 1964 and participated in many activities over the next 50 years including the choir and Bell choir. After retiring from working for the NYS DDSO for over 30 years she dedicated herself to New Horizons Orchestra, Hochstrings, Green Strings and New Horizons Strings as a violinist. Joan was also an avid life-long learner and an enthusiastic bird watcher, gardener and animal lover who donated to Lollipop Farm for 15 years as well as WXXI Public Broadcasting, a family favorite for 16 years. Joan had a vivaciousness that will be missed by her family and many, many friends.
We wish to give our heartfelt thanks to both Advent House in Fairport, NY and Sunset House in Irondequoit, NY for their amazing hospice care. Please send donations in Joan's name to these amazing facilities. A memorial service for Joan will be held on Saturday, October 11th, 2025 at 11:00 AM in person at First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Rd., Rochester, NY 14610 and online @ www.rochesterunitarian.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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