1958
Joan
2024
Joan Zarky
June 22, 1958 — May 25, 2024
Joan Ellen Zarky was born on June 22, 1958, and died on May 25, 2024. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Harold and Marilyn Zarky. She leaves behind countless friends and family members who miss her terribly. Those are the dry facts. But there was nothing “dry” about Joan except perhaps her humor. Death tried to take her a few times but she fought back, overcoming illness and obstacles that would force others to fold. But this last time was apparently just too much for her.
Known in childhood as “Rosebud,” and in adulthood as “The Hub,” Joan made friends with pretty much everyone she ever met. And, as The Hub, she brought together seemingly disparate individuals who became friends among themselves and, in turn, circled around her. All her friends, and there certainly are many, would do anything to help Joan, and she would do anything and everything to help her friends. She leaves behind too many friends, from across the globe, to name them all here, but a few do require mention as friends of many, many years - Ron Elkins (Richard Blake), Howard DuBoe (Patti), Jackie Mattox, Doreen Keller, Sherry Silvern (Josh), Fran McClain, Lisa Salvadore, and, most importantly, her “sister in heart” Nancy Herman (Danny Johnson, and daughter Emily Herman).
Joan had not only her human friends but countless dogs that she adopted, raised, or cared for on behalf of others. From the several Dutch(es) in her childhood to Murphy, Riley, Peanut, and Popcorn, just to name a few over the years, she could train the untrainable, and loved them all (although preferring the small dogs).
Joan’s parties at her house were epic. Friends filling the rooms, food flowing, and music playing. Joan was a great guitar player but, even more, she had a voice beyond compare. One person described her voice as a cross between Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass Elliott - her voice had tenderness, soul, and feeling with every song she ever sang. So when it came to music at her parties, she’d play and sing, joined in by almost everyone there.
Joan loved playing cards, Scrabble, and Jeopardy. She traveled, and wished she could travel more. She spent many an hour at the card tables in Las Vegas and at more local casinos. She would try food of (almost) any type, and loved cooking and trying new recipes. Road trips from the northern Illinois suburbs to southern Illinois solely to get tacos from Jack in the Box were not unheard of. A notable trip for Joan was with Nancy to the South where Joan had so much shrimp and grits that she could not look at a shrimp when they came back home to Illinois.
We invite all who cherished Joan’s friendship and her memory to join us in a celebration of her life on June 22, 2024, at her house at 129 Andrew Lane, Schaumburg, Illinois, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your guitar, banjo, any instrument you want, share stories, and join in the music she so loved to play and sing.
For those so inclined, a donation to a charity of your choice in Joan’s name and to her memory would be appreciated.
Known in childhood as “Rosebud,” and in adulthood as “The Hub,” Joan made friends with pretty much everyone she ever met. And, as The Hub, she brought together seemingly disparate individuals who became friends among themselves and, in turn, circled around her. All her friends, and there certainly are many, would do anything to help Joan, and she would do anything and everything to help her friends. She leaves behind too many friends, from across the globe, to name them all here, but a few do require mention as friends of many, many years - Ron Elkins (Richard Blake), Howard DuBoe (Patti), Jackie Mattox, Doreen Keller, Sherry Silvern (Josh), Fran McClain, Lisa Salvadore, and, most importantly, her “sister in heart” Nancy Herman (Danny Johnson, and daughter Emily Herman).
Joan had not only her human friends but countless dogs that she adopted, raised, or cared for on behalf of others. From the several Dutch(es) in her childhood to Murphy, Riley, Peanut, and Popcorn, just to name a few over the years, she could train the untrainable, and loved them all (although preferring the small dogs).
Joan’s parties at her house were epic. Friends filling the rooms, food flowing, and music playing. Joan was a great guitar player but, even more, she had a voice beyond compare. One person described her voice as a cross between Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass Elliott - her voice had tenderness, soul, and feeling with every song she ever sang. So when it came to music at her parties, she’d play and sing, joined in by almost everyone there.
Joan loved playing cards, Scrabble, and Jeopardy. She traveled, and wished she could travel more. She spent many an hour at the card tables in Las Vegas and at more local casinos. She would try food of (almost) any type, and loved cooking and trying new recipes. Road trips from the northern Illinois suburbs to southern Illinois solely to get tacos from Jack in the Box were not unheard of. A notable trip for Joan was with Nancy to the South where Joan had so much shrimp and grits that she could not look at a shrimp when they came back home to Illinois.
We invite all who cherished Joan’s friendship and her memory to join us in a celebration of her life on June 22, 2024, at her house at 129 Andrew Lane, Schaumburg, Illinois, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring your guitar, banjo, any instrument you want, share stories, and join in the music she so loved to play and sing.
For those so inclined, a donation to a charity of your choice in Joan’s name and to her memory would be appreciated.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joan Zarky, please visit our flower store.
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