Obituary: Joan Betty Puchta, 83

Joan Betty Puchta, 83, of West Islip, New York, died Friday, October 13, 2017.

Joan was born July 23, 1933 in Norfolk, New York, to Francis Leon and Grace (Castle) Butler. She was the fifth of six children, and left home in 1949 to pursue a secretarial career in Cortland, New York.

She met her husband, George John Puchta, in 1951 and they were married in 1956. Together with their family, they lived in Syracuse, New York; Branchport, New York; Seaford, Delaware; and Ridgley, Maryland before settling in West Islip in 1966.

Survivors include her husband, George J.; her three children, Margaret, George (Lisa), and James (Diane); and her five grandchildren, Laurel, John, Chrissie, Carrie, and Emily.

Joan was predeceased by her three sisters, Lorraine, Jean, and Bobbie; and her two brothers, James and John.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm at Chapey and Sons Funeral Home in West Islip on Friday, October 20. A funeral mass will be held Saturday morning at 10:30am at Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip.

Photo and obit submitted by Laurel Louise Brierly