Obituary of Joan Carol Staby

Joan Carol Behrens Staby Retired Hamburg school teacher and Eden resident June 9 1934 - June 7 2023 Joan Carol Staby passed on June 7 following a brief period of declining health. She passed peacefully in Brighton, MI with family by her side. Joan was born in Chicago to Herbert and Dorothy Berhens. Her early life was spent growing up in western Chicago when she was very young. Her family moved to Montclair Ave. in Glen Ellyn Illinois where they had a very happy home which was shared with her younger brothers John and Gregg who have predeceased her. She attended school in Glen Ellyn and was a 1951 graduate of Glenbard High school where she was a cheerleader for a very powerful high school football team. She always talked fondly of days growing up and her early years were quite idyllic despite growing up during World War 2. Unfortunately for her family, her father passed of cancer when she was 16 years old. Joan had a deep and special relationship with her father so losing him at this tender age was very difficult for her. It ultimately made her a very strong and independent woman. Upon graduation from High School Joan would board a train by herself at 17 years and head to Oxford, Ohio where she attended Miami of Ohio university where she would graduate with a BA in English. This is where she would meet the love of her life Richard “Dick” Staby at Mac and Joes restaurant where she worked as a waitress to support herself. They married shortly after college and remained a very loving couple up until Dick’s passing in March of 2011. Upon graduating and getting married Joan and Dick initially lived in Kitzigen Germany while Dick served in the army. Joan always spoke fondly of these early days of marriage, experiencing Germany, and making ends meet by cooking on a 2-burner hotplate. It is also where their first child Kristen Margret was born in December 1957 Upon leaving Germany Joan and Dick moved back state side originally living in Tonawanda and eventually building a home that they would live in until July 2022. In July 1961 her second child Lisa Lynn would be born followed by a son Scott Richard in June 1967. Joan was a vibrant part of the fabric in Eden. Eden was a wonderful place to raise a family. Joan was always actively involved in local groups that gave back to the community. Joan was involved in the Eden Garden Club, helping to design and build the park that stands on the four corners of Eden. She was also involved in many other community groups including the chamber of commerce, the Eden up to date club, the Boys and Girls club, a local dulcimer group, and was a very active member of the Eden United Methodist church. Joan was also a wonderful teacher. While she had children at home, she often substituted at Eden elementary while she completed her masters in education at Buffalo State College. When her children became school aged, she took a job as a full-time teacher in the Hamburg school district teaching second, third and fourth grades for almost 20 years. Despite all this hard work there was always a home cooked dinner on the table every night at 6PM. She took great pride in being a schoolteacher and mother. She also always maintained spectacular gardens at their home of over 50 years. Dogs were also a large part of her life including her English Setter Sam who was a great comfort to her after Dick’s passing. She also raised several Irish Setters that went on to be champions. In her later years Joan and Dick took great pleasure in spending winters in the home they purchased on Anna Maria Island Florida. After Dick’s passing Joan remained very active in the local community and took great pleasure and support from all the friends and family in WNY that she loved so dearly. In the last year of her life, due to declining health, Joan moved to Michigan to be near family. I was thankful for these days and the memories shared during this time. Joan was predeceased by her husband Richard (2011) and her daughter Lisa (2017). She is survived by a daughter Kristen (Chris) Rembold and son Scott (Amy) Staby, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Additionally, Joan leaves behind many friends in the Eden community that were such a great comfort to her. A special thank you to George and Diana Gravoc who did so much for her. Visitation will held at the Laing Funeral Home 2723 W. Church St. Eden from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM on Thursday June 15. A funeral will be held at the Eden United Methodist Church at 10AM on Friday June 16. Words of sympathy may be left on www.LaingFuneralHome.com