Berlin – Joan Beatrice (Nelson) deLeon, 80, of Green Hollow Road, Berlin, NY, died on April 4, 2014, at home surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle against cancer.
Born on July 28, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Ruth (Hinsch) and Eric J.W. Nelson. Joan was a 1951 graduate of Huntington High School on Long Island.
Joan had the deepest love for Ralph deLeon, her adoring husband of 62 years. They married in 1952 and lived their early years in Greenlawn, NY, where Ralph ran a business and Joan raised their family. In 1969 Joan and Ralph moved their family to Berlin. In 1970 Joan returned to nursing school, receiving her Licensed Practical Nursing certification. She worked for the next 17 years for Dr. Henry Richmond in Bennington, VT. Joan left nursing to assist Ralph in running the family businesses.
She was active in the Berlin Methodist Church and the Berlin Republican party. She previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Berlin Town Library. She also enjoyed being a long term member of two book clubs.
Survivors, besides her husband, include their five children, Renee Williams and husband Richard of Pownal, VT, Ralph deLeon of Schenectady, NY, Robin Cipperly of Berlin, Richard deLeon and wife Colleen of Berlin and Roger deLeon and fiancée Victoria Calaban of Latham, NY. Joan is also survived by seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Carol Kirchner, and one grandchild, Rachael Williams.
A celebration of life gathering will be held Saturday, April 12, at 12 noon at the Berlin United Methodist Church, 13 South Main Street, Berlin. There will be a reception at the Berlin Fire Hall at 1 pm following the Church celebration. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the Rensselaer County Hospice or the Berlin Free Town Library. For on-line condolences please visit www.TheRiverviewFuneralHome.com.