LAGRANGE – Joan Marie Gaus McKeown, 90, died peacefully at her home on October 21, 2021.

Born in Elmhurst, Queens on March 14, 1931, she was the daughter of Edward and Rose (Babor) Gaus. She attended St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church and School in Elmhurst, Queens, attended Dominican Academy in New York City (Class of 1948/49), and also attended Wood Secretarial School.

On November 24, 1951, Joan married Patrick J. ("Joe") McKeown and was married for 67 years until his death on March 11, 2019. They raised five children in Syosset, Long Island where they lived from 1954-1990. She was a member of St. Edward Confessor Church and Choir and was employed by Syosset Central School District as a school secretary at Berry Hill Elementary School for approximately 14 years.

Joan and Joe moved to Poughkeepsie in 1991 for their retirement years. She was a member of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Red Oaks Mill and volunteered at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie for 10 years. Joan loved to garden and hang her clothes outside to dry. She took voice lessons and loved to sing in the choir and be in theater productions. She also played the piano and painted wonderful watercolors. She adored her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her five children: Rosanne Boguski of Land O'Lakes, FL; John (and Deborah) McKeown of Pittsford, NY; Paul McKeown of Olean, NY; Joanne (and Thomas) McKeown Corley of Bethlehem, PA; and Patrick (and Kathryn) McKeown of Hopewell Jct., NY; 14 grandchildren: Katelyn ("Katie") Cuviello, William ("Billy") Boguski, Stephanie Sandwell, Emily Richardson McKeown, Grace McKeown, Molly Wren, Megan Retchless, Kelly McKeown, Kaitlyn ("Kate") McKeown, Joy Rudi Yosua, Phillip Corley, John Corley, Thomas Corley, Patrick "Joseph" McKeown; 7 great-grandchildren: Juliette and Sophie Cuviello, Abigail ("Abby") and Peter Sandwell, Charlie and Wesley Yosua, Harrison ("Harry") Wren; and nieces and nephews: Mary Ellen (Gaus) Grimm, Regina (Gaus) McCooey, Maureen Gaus, Edward Gaus, and William ("Billy") Gaus. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Edward J. Gaus, Jr.

Calling hours will be held on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday at 9:30am at St. Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie followed by interment in St. John's Cemetery, Queens.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Martin de Porres School, 122 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Please visit Joan's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.