Joan Lenore Carter

Joan Lenore Carter, 91, of Silver Spring, Maryland died peacefully at home in her bed the evening of August 11, 2019. Joan was born September 15, 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Gerardo Magella Pascaretta and Vincenza "Jennie" Mastascusa Pascaretta. Joan grew up with her siblings Francis, Rosemarie, and Virginia. Joan married the love of her life, Highland Carter, and they began their family together in upstate New York. Eventually, the family settled in Silver Spring, MD. Joan was employed as an administrative assistant for the Department of Labor, but her life's work was as a homemaker for her family. Joan's two favorite hobbies blossomed from a young age, reading and music. She was a voracious reader and religiously listened to the opera on Saturday afternoons. Her passion for music led her to the piano which she played with proficiency. Joan inherited her love of gardening from her father and spent hours nurturing her flowers and plants. From her mother, she learned the ways of the sewing machine. Anyone who knows Joan has seen the talent she exhibited behind a crochet hook. She donated countless blankets and baby bibs to friends and strangers alike. Following the death of her husband in 1983, Joan moved to Leisure World where she lived for more than 30 years, enjoying long walks, bridge, traveling, volunteering at the library, and sweet friendships. Her greatest joy however was her family. Joan is survived by her her four children, Colette Carter, Eric Carter (Ruth), Stewart Carter (Vikki), and Alison Slawson (Tim). She was a very proud grandmother to seven grandchildren, Kevin Corbin, Collin Corbin, Natalie Emberger (Carl), Julia Gleason (Mark), Valerie Parris (Brett), Danielle Reap, Anthony Carter (Taryn), and seven great-grandchildren, Khalil Parris, Desmond Carter, Josephine Carter, Carter Emberger, Rosemarie Parris, Ezra Emberger, and Tristan Gleason. Joan was a person of few words but great love, always ready with a frozen chocolate chip cookie, a ready ear, and a side of dry wit. A wise woman with a kind empathetic heart she will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held August 24, 2019 beginning at 9:30 am at the Interfaith Chapel on South Leisure World Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD with a lunch reception to follow at her daughter Colette's home. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Lupus Foundation of America in memory of Joan.