Joan Catherine Schroeder

Joan Catherine Schroeder was born on September 2, 1936, to John Sweeney and Emma (Stoker) Sweeney. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, educator, volunteer, mentor and friend, Joan passed away peacefully on October 23, 2026 at the age of 90.

Joan married the love of her life, the late William Francis Schroeder (“Billy 13”) in January 1958 and began their life together in Mount Vernon, New York, before making their home in Spring Valley, where they raised their three children, William Francis Schroeder, John Francis Schroeder and Theresa Anne (Schroeder) Gore.

Throughout her life, Joan had an extraordinary commitment to her family, her faith and serving others. She attended Hunter College, where she studied home economics and psychology, and continued her education at Lehman College, pursuing graduate studies in education. She later received a masters degree in public administration from Pace University.

Professionally, she devoted much of her career to helping children and families, first as a Head Start teacher and later with the Rockland County Department of Social Services, where her work grew from casework into senior planning and evaluation responsibilities.

Joan’s most meaningful work took place outside of her professional career. Her favorite work was with the church youth groups, where she spent many years mentoring and guiding young people through the Catholic Youth Organization and Teenage Federation at the parish, county and Archdiocesan levels. She organized youth programs, taught leadership and peer ministry, and worked alongside both teenagers and adult volunteers. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, taught religious education at St. Joseph’s Church in Spring Valley and served as a foster parent with the Catholic Home Bureau, where she cared for 15 babies. Her years of service earned her several honors, including the Youth Ministry Award from the Archdiocese of New York and a Parish Volunteer Award.

Music was a great passion of Joan’s. She helped found the Guitar Folk Group at St. Joseph’s, where she remained a longtime member and served as its music leader for many years. Her love of singing continued with Harmony on the Hudson and the St. Joseph’s choir.

Joan was devoted to her family. She cherished holidays, family celebrations and any opportunity to have the people she loved gathered together. For Joan, family was at the heart of everything, and she took great joy in the traditions and memories they created through the years. She and Billy built a life together centered on family and faith, leaving behind a legacy of love that will live on through their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband, William Francis Schroeder, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her three children William (Donna), John (Peggy), and Theresa (Chris); her siblings, Barbara Anne Sweeney and John Edward Sweeney; her grandchildren, Kelly Marie Carlone, John Wilson Schroeder, and Catherine Emma Gore; her great-grandchildren Grace Schroeder and Alexandra Carlone; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the management, staff and residents of Brightview Lake Tappan, Joan’s home for the past five years. We all became family, and the care she received was exceptional. We cannot thank them enough.

The family will receive friends and loved ones on Wednesday October 28, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Moritz Funeral Home, Tappan, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday October 29, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Catharine of Alexandria Parish, Blauvelt, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joan’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation Walk for the Cure through the Brightview Lake Tappan’s team link: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?team_id=1067147&pg=team&fr_id=19799