Joan Marie Stafford Unger

Joan Marie Stafford Unger passed away on June 3, 2014 in Orem, Utah where she had been living for the past 37years. She is survived by her son Sterling Snyder, her sister Sylvia Stafford Hanseen, her brother Gail Stafford and one very funny tortie cat named Princess. She enjoyed the love and company of many nieces and nephews.

Joanie was born on February 4, 1934 in Beacon, NY. Later, her parents moved to Florence, MA and then to North Hadley, MA where she attended primary school and high school at Hopkins Academy. In high school, she played the alto sax in the marching band and became junior prom queen…much to the dismay of the "popular" girls. She enjoyed her high school days very much, especially with her best friend Josie. Joanie and Josie attended Westfield State Teacher's College together, where Joanie got a degree in secondary education. After a few years of teaching, she moved to Santa Anna, CA where she taught for a short time. She then moved to Utah to be near her sister Sylvia. In Utah Joanie married and had one child, her son Sterling.

Joanie loved animals and had many dogs and cats over the years, saving many strays from starvation. She loved anything patriotic and anything that reminded her of the eastern coast. She always identified herself proudly as a New-Englander. In her younger years she was a serious student but as she became older, she developed a wonderful sense of humor that the whole family loved. Her thoughtful and quirky Christmas gifts became family legend. Joanie always aspired to be a writer and kept a number of notebooks with many good ideas for stories and articles to write.

As a family we would like to thank all of her past and present friends that cared for and loved her. We love her deeply and will miss her dearly.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 6, 2014 at Berg Mortuary, 500 North State Street, Orem, Utah. Friends may call from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Orem City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent through her obituary at www.bergmortuary.com.