Obituary of Joan Popovitch
Joan Elizabeth Ahearn Popovitch October 24, 1938 – December 4, 2018
It is with great sadness that the family of Joan Elizabeth Ahearn Popovitch announces her passing after an extended illness on December 4, 2018, at the age of 80 years. Joan will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 57 years, Leo, and her children, Rob (Dawn) Popovitch, Sue (Dave) Balawender, and Laura (Kevin) Sewell. She will also be fondly remembered by her three grandchildren, Tyler, Katy and Ryan, and her many nieces and nephews and extended family and dear friends.
Joan was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to James F. Ahearn and Nettie (Olga Winkiewicz) Ahearn. She was preceded in death by her parents and her three siblings, whom she adored: James R. Ahearn, Joyce Hutson, and Nettie Koshoffer.
Joan was a cheerleader at Metuchen High School and graduated in 1957. She attended Muhlenberg School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in 1960. She married Leo John Popovitch on August 19, 1961, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Piscataway, NJ. She began her career in nursing at Lyon’s VA Hospital in Bernards Township, NJ and later worked at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, NJ. In 1977 she and Leo moved with their children to Little Rock, AR. During her 27 years in Arkansas, Joan was a registered nurse at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Baptist Hospital, and St. Vincent’s Infirmary. She was a zealous participant in numerous charitable initiatives by those medical institutions. While advancing to nursing administration at the hospital management level, she earned both a bachelor’s degree from University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a master’s degree from Webster University.
Joan and Leo retired in 2003 to Plano, Texas to be near their children and grandchildren. She thoroughly enjoyed supporting her grandchildren at countless school assemblies, plays, and sporting events and continued to do so throughout her illness.
A memorial service will be privately held. Memorial donations may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center: www.mdanderson.org.