Joan M. Dalton, 68, of Hopewell Junction, NY, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 11, after a brief illness. Joan was the beloved daughter of Norma B. Dalton, deceased, and Leo J. Dalton, who survives her. Joan is also survived by her three siblings, Mark, Anne and John.

Joan was born in Poughkeepsie, NY, on November 17, 1954. She attended local schools and graduated from John Jay High School and Dutchess Community College with and associate's degree in nursing. For forty-two years, Joan worked as a registered nurse caring for geriatric patients, primarily on nights. During her career, she cared for thousands of elderly people, providing them with kind medical attention and emotional support. Joan found both stress and satisfaction in her work and described many encounters with those she met at the bedside. Her experiences were often intense and sad. However, Joan appreciated her patients' vitality, and she shared much good humor with them. As a geriatric nurse, Joan not only attended to her patients, she also cared for their families. In sum, Joan could always make a difficult place a better place.

In retirement, Joan worked part time as a cafeteria, hall and recess monitor for elementary schools in the Wappingers Central School District. In this work, she became responsible for the welfare of young children, but she still enjoyed their company, in part because she looked to see each child as an individual. Her empathic impulse was perhaps her greatest gift.

Joan loved and cared for her immediate and extended family. She particularly enjoyed traveling with her parents to places such as the Caribbean, Maine, and Italy. Joan always looked forward to large family gatherings where she could catch up on the news from aunts, uncles and cousins. Joan had a prodigious memory, particularly for the family tree, and entertained relatives with her detailed recollections of distant events.

Passionate about working out, and particularly in yoga, Joan made friends at her gym and looked forward to both the sweat and the company.

For a year at the start of the Co-Vid 19 pandemic, Joan cared for her ailing mother, Norma, managing to navigate the line between daughter and nurse. Norma was also Joan's great friend, and Joan appreciated the love and intimacy they shared during Norma's illness.

Joan is also survived by her brother, Mark Dalton, and his wife, Joyce Rambo, of Albany, her sister Anne Dalton, and her husband Heinz Insu Fenkl, and her brother, John Dalton of Wappingers Falls. Other surviving family members include Joan's nieces, Anya Aliferis of NY, NY, and Isabella Dalton-Fenkl of Poughkeepsie.

Joan loved her extended family, including Dr. Joseph Bellino and his wife Clarice, deceased, and their children, Christopher, deceased, Michael and Claudia. Joan was fortunate to be able to visit regularly with her aunt, Kathryn Ann Graham, her uncle, Donald Graham, and her two cousins, Amy and Melanie Graham. Joan also had fond memories of her uncle Richard Bellino, deceased, and his wife, Carol. Her affection extended to Diane Liccardi, the mother Joan's niece, Anya.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Joan's name at the Church of St. Columba in Hopewell Junction on April 18th at 11:30 a.m. Please visit her Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.