Joan Kathryn DeKay

Joan Kathryn (Adloff) DeKay, 85, of Dunnellon, Florida, passed away on February 28, 2024. Joan was born on September 4, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, to Kathryn (Zanini) Adloff and Frederick Adloff. She was raised in Dearborn, Michigan. Joan attended Edsel Ford High School, where she was the very first graduate in 1956 of the newly opened school. After a first marriage to Daniel Swantko in 1957, she married David H. DeKay in 1972. In 1980, they moved to Florida, living in St. Petersburg until moving to Dunnellon in 2015.
Early in her career, Joan worked in restaurants and food service facilities. She had a great affinity for working with people and was loved and respected as a manager. She went into banking and finance, working in banks and brokerage firms. Her social and management skills continued to serve her well. After retiring, she obtained her massage therapy license and continued her love working with people. She also volunteered in hospitals. Her passion for people and her social skills were a hallmark of her life.
Her love of family and friends were the most important thing in her life. She always thrived when among her family and friends. Her comfort and advice were freely offered and sought out by others. She made many close friends during her lifetime. Joan, known affectionately to her family as "Nana," always made time for those she loved. Her joy of life and great compassion for others provided many special memories to those she knew and loved.
She fought with Alzheimer's disease the last few years of her life. She never lost her passion for life and fiercely fought for her independence and those she loved. She will be missed but fondly remembered for what she did for others.
Joan is survived by her brother Lawrence Adloff, husband David, and children Lawrence Jeffrey (Cris) Swantko, Carrie (David) O'Rourke, Matthew (Kim) Swantko, Jennifer (Michael) Blazejewski, and David James (Suzanne) DeKay; grandchildren Kathleen Swantko, Mariah (Garrett) Burns, Lauren (Zac) Boutin, Jillian (Eric) Williams, Hope Swantko, Abigail Swantko, Andrew Blazejewski, Adam Blazejewski, Jackson Swantko, Samantha DeKay, and Charlotte DeKay; and great grandchild Owen Boutin.
A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Joan DeKay to the Alzheimer's Association. https://act.alz.org/donate