Joan C. Traff

Joan Carol Traff, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Joan was born on June 9, 1936 in Rockford, IL to Ira and Isabel Jury. She graduated from Harlem High School in 1954. While attending Harlem she met her future husband, Gerald W. Traff. Joan and Gerry were married for 58 years prior to his passing in 2014. Her husband and her were inseparable and spent many happy years together raising their children and delighting in spending time with their grandchildren. Family meant everything to the two of them and many of mom's happiest memories were of family trips and time spent with not only her immediate family, but with nieces and nephews and their children. Joan and Gerry traveled together to the Dakotas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and California, and took multiple trips to Florida to spend time on the beach and at their happy place, Disney World.
Joan worked at Parkside Men's Wear in Loves Park, Pioneer Life Insurance, and spent a number of years as a stay at home mom while her children were young. Later she was employed for many years in the Accounting Office at Rockford Blacktop. After her husband passed she lived with her children shuttling primarily between Michael's home in Machesney Park and Linda's home in Phoenix and later in Columbus, Ohio. Joan always had a kind word and smile for everyone despite the challenges of living with Parkinsons. Whenever she was asked how she was doing, her answer was always "fine" and she truly meant that as she had learned to be content with whatever life brought to her. She loved hearing about what her family and friends were doing, listening to music and singing along, and watching Everybody Loves Raymond never ceased to make her laugh. Joan took great joy in life and people, and continued to do so even as her health declined.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the entire staff at Cherryvale Place, especially to Vicki, her primary nurse, as well as to Lindsey and Clarissa from ProMedica Hospice who all took such great care of mom.
Joan is survived by her children, Michael (Andrea) Traff and Linda Traff (Christine Monaco); her grandchildren, Anthony Ethridge, Christian Traff, Gina Toms, and Ryan (Melissa) Toms; great-grandchildren Ainsley, Berkley, and Annika; and also her favorite dog, Mika. Her humor and kindness, made the world a better place. May perpetual light shine upon her.
Memorial service will be at 11:00am with a visitation from 10:00am until the service on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory-Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ProMedica Hospice, 6000 E. State St., 1st Floor, Rockford, IL 61108.
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