In memory of my beloved grandmother.
Joan Harriet Williams Gebhardt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joseph Henry Williams and Edna Smith. She was known affectionately as "Nanny."
She spent her young childhood in and around Philadelphia, then moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey as a young girl to live with her grandmother, Anna Marie. As an adult, she loved to travel; visiting and living in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Malaysia. She traveled the country in her motor home with her favorite companions in the world: Mimi and JJ, her beautiful show Maltese.
She worked for the Pennsylvania State Constables Association and for the Pennsylvania Turnpike for 10 years until she retired and moved to Arizona in the late 80s. She later came out of retirement and got her nursing license to become a CNA for Angels PRN.
The holidays were her absolute favorite time of the year, and a large part of our family would gather at her home to celebrate. She always insisted on doing all of the cooking (from scratch) and did her Christmas shopping year-round to make sure we had tons of gifts. She never turned down an invitation to brave Black Friday shopping, though. I remember every time someone walked in her door on Christmas, the first thing she'd say was "what'd you bring me?" With a giant grin on her face. The photo published with her obituary was of her opening a Christmas present.
She had a strong love for animals, but dogs always held a special place in her heart. In her later years, she rescued many from the shelter and cared for them as if they were children. For a time, she also bred and collected beautiful birds. It was one of her final wishes to have her home sold, and the proceeds given to the local Humane Society.
She did not have an easy life, but she was a strong, hard-working woman. She was sassy and friendly, and silently demanded respect. She was born into an old-fashioned Catholic family, and had values and standards that I'm very glad she passed along to me.
She adored dolls of all shapes and sizes, collecting any and every tech gadget and computer she could get her hands on, and she was the most talented crafter. She could make beautiful things out of yarn and canvas or beads and sequins.
She was a mother to 7, grandmother to 13, and was gone before any of her 11 great grandchildren were born. She was preceded in death by a son. Her sister joined her in March 2010, a granddaughter in March 2012, and a great-grandson in November 2012.
As she wished, her ashes were scattered on what would have been her 64th birthday in the Yuma mountains overlooking her home.
She was a loving and kind grandmother, my confidant, and my friend. She is deeply missed.
Joan Harriet Williams Gebhardt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joseph Henry Williams and Edna Smith. She was known affectionately as "Nanny."
She spent her young childhood in and around Philadelphia, then moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey as a young girl to live with her grandmother, Anna Marie. As an adult, she loved to travel; visiting and living in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Malaysia. She traveled the country in her motor home with her favorite companions in the world: Mimi and JJ, her beautiful show Maltese.
She worked for the Pennsylvania State Constables Association and for the Pennsylvania Turnpike for 10 years until she retired and moved to Arizona in the late 80s. She later came out of retirement and got her nursing license to become a CNA for Angels PRN.
The holidays were her absolute favorite time of the year, and a large part of our family would gather at her home to celebrate. She always insisted on doing all of the cooking (from scratch) and did her Christmas shopping year-round to make sure we had tons of gifts. She never turned down an invitation to brave Black Friday shopping, though. I remember every time someone walked in her door on Christmas, the first thing she'd say was "what'd you bring me?" With a giant grin on her face. The photo published with her obituary was of her opening a Christmas present.
She had a strong love for animals, but dogs always held a special place in her heart. In her later years, she rescued many from the shelter and cared for them as if they were children. For a time, she also bred and collected beautiful birds. It was one of her final wishes to have her home sold, and the proceeds given to the local Humane Society.
She did not have an easy life, but she was a strong, hard-working woman. She was sassy and friendly, and silently demanded respect. She was born into an old-fashioned Catholic family, and had values and standards that I'm very glad she passed along to me.
She adored dolls of all shapes and sizes, collecting any and every tech gadget and computer she could get her hands on, and she was the most talented crafter. She could make beautiful things out of yarn and canvas or beads and sequins.
She was a mother to 7, grandmother to 13, and was gone before any of her 11 great grandchildren were born. She was preceded in death by a son. Her sister joined her in March 2010, a granddaughter in March 2012, and a great-grandson in November 2012.
As she wished, her ashes were scattered on what would have been her 64th birthday in the Yuma mountains overlooking her home.
She was a loving and kind grandmother, my confidant, and my friend. She is deeply missed.
In memory of my beloved grandmother.
Joan Harriet Williams Gebhardt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joseph Henry Williams and Edna Smith. She was known affectionately as "Nanny."
She spent her young childhood in and around Philadelphia, then moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey as a young girl to live with her grandmother, Anna Marie. As an adult, she loved to travel; visiting and living in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Malaysia. She traveled the country in her motor home with her favorite companions in the world: Mimi and JJ, her beautiful show Maltese.
She worked for the Pennsylvania State Constables Association and for the Pennsylvania Turnpike for 10 years until she retired and moved to Arizona in the late 80s. She later came out of retirement and got her nursing license to become a CNA for Angels PRN.
The holidays were her absolute favorite time of the year, and a large part of our family would gather at her home to celebrate. She always insisted on doing all of the cooking (from scratch) and did her Christmas shopping year-round to make sure we had tons of gifts. She never turned down an invitation to brave Black Friday shopping, though. I remember every time someone walked in her door on Christmas, the first thing she'd say was "what'd you bring me?" With a giant grin on her face. The photo published with her obituary was of her opening a Christmas present.
She had a strong love for animals, but dogs always held a special place in her heart. In her later years, she rescued many from the shelter and cared for them as if they were children. For a time, she also bred and collected beautiful birds. It was one of her final wishes to have her home sold, and the proceeds given to the local Humane Society.
She did not have an easy life, but she was a strong, hard-working woman. She was sassy and friendly, and silently demanded respect. She was born into an old-fashioned Catholic family, and had values and standards that I'm very glad she passed along to me.
She adored dolls of all shapes and sizes, collecting any and every tech gadget and computer she could get her hands on, and she was the most talented crafter. She could make beautiful things out of yarn and canvas or beads and sequins.
She was a mother to 7, grandmother to 13, and was gone before any of her 11 great grandchildren were born. She was preceded in death by a son. Her sister joined her in March 2010, a granddaughter in March 2012, and a great-grandson in November 2012.
As she wished, her ashes were scattered on what would have been her 64th birthday in the Yuma mountains overlooking her home.
She was a loving and kind grandmother, my confidant, and my friend. She is deeply missed.
Joan Harriet Williams Gebhardt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joseph Henry Williams and Edna Smith. She was known affectionately as "Nanny."
She spent her young childhood in and around Philadelphia, then moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey as a young girl to live with her grandmother, Anna Marie. As an adult, she loved to travel; visiting and living in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Malaysia. She traveled the country in her motor home with her favorite companions in the world: Mimi and JJ, her beautiful show Maltese.
She worked for the Pennsylvania State Constables Association and for the Pennsylvania Turnpike for 10 years until she retired and moved to Arizona in the late 80s. She later came out of retirement and got her nursing license to become a CNA for Angels PRN.
The holidays were her absolute favorite time of the year, and a large part of our family would gather at her home to celebrate. She always insisted on doing all of the cooking (from scratch) and did her Christmas shopping year-round to make sure we had tons of gifts. She never turned down an invitation to brave Black Friday shopping, though. I remember every time someone walked in her door on Christmas, the first thing she'd say was "what'd you bring me?" With a giant grin on her face. The photo published with her obituary was of her opening a Christmas present.
She had a strong love for animals, but dogs always held a special place in her heart. In her later years, she rescued many from the shelter and cared for them as if they were children. For a time, she also bred and collected beautiful birds. It was one of her final wishes to have her home sold, and the proceeds given to the local Humane Society.
She did not have an easy life, but she was a strong, hard-working woman. She was sassy and friendly, and silently demanded respect. She was born into an old-fashioned Catholic family, and had values and standards that I'm very glad she passed along to me.
She adored dolls of all shapes and sizes, collecting any and every tech gadget and computer she could get her hands on, and she was the most talented crafter. She could make beautiful things out of yarn and canvas or beads and sequins.
She was a mother to 7, grandmother to 13, and was gone before any of her 11 great grandchildren were born. She was preceded in death by a son. Her sister joined her in March 2010, a granddaughter in March 2012, and a great-grandson in November 2012.
As she wished, her ashes were scattered on what would have been her 64th birthday in the Yuma mountains overlooking her home.
She was a loving and kind grandmother, my confidant, and my friend. She is deeply missed.
Bio by: LVPennGen
Gravesite Details
Her original memorial was merged with her cenotaph, which is at Sunset Funeral Home.
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