Joan Hartford Ferreira

Ferreira, Joan ROCHESTER, N.Y. Joan Hartford Ferreira, formerly of Schenectady, N.Y., beloved wife, mother and grandmother, entered eternal life peacefully on August 28, 2008 surrounded by family after a brief illness. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Manuel James Ferreira. Born May 31, 1929, in Schenectady, N.Y., she was the daughter of Leo J. Hartford and Margaret Curley Hartford and a graduate of Nott Terrace High School in Schenectady. She was a 1951 graduate of the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. A loving wife, mother of five and grandmother of seven, Joan was devoted to her husband and her children, always providing a warm and secure home, whether it be in Minnesota, Canada, England, Rhode Island, upstate New York or Georgia. She was a member of the Cornell University Council, elected by alumni to the Board of Trustees, and later became a trustee emeritus, one of Cornell's most highly regarded volunteer positions. She served the College of Human Ecology as chair of its advisory council, and the college honored her in 1993 with the Helen Bull Vandervort Alumni Achievement Award. Joan was also active with her class and served in multiple roles, including class president. In recognition of her service to the university, Joan was awarded the Frank H. T. Rhodes Exemplary Service Award in 2001. She was a county leader with the Schenectady County Cooperative Extension, a legislative chair of the New York State Home Economics Association and active in the New York State Legislative Forum. She was a Girl Scout Leader and member of her parish choir in the places she lived. She served as a member of the board of directors for the Schenectady County YMCA, League of Schenectady Symphony, and Schenectady Catholic Family and Community Services. Joan was a strong, independent and vibrant woman whose wit, grace and practical advice will be deeply missed. Her presence will always remain with those who loved her so dearly. She is survived by five children, Mary (Tom) Reynolds of Alpharetta, Ga., James H. (Abbie) Ferreira of Delmar, N.Y., Catherine M. Ferreira of San Francisco, Calif., Ann Ferreira Reissner (Jon) of Edina, Minn. and Elizabeth (Mark) Todd of Rochester, N.Y. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Caitlin, Margaret, Michael, Richard, Jack, Madeline and Katherine. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on September 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Margaret Mary on Homestead Street and Western Avenue in Albany. Interment will be in Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan's memory to the M.J. and Joan Hartford Ferreira Family Cornell Tradition Fellowship Fund, Cornell University, Box 223623, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-2623.