Obituary of Joan M. Keefe

Joan Keefe was born April 27, 1925 at home in Lynbrook, NY and raised in Oceanside. Her parents were Josephine O’Brien Doerflinger and Robert Doerflinger. She had 4 siblings Roberta, Josephine, Robert and Eleanor. Joan met her husband of 75 years on a blind date at the USO. It was love at first sight and they were married 3 months later. After WWII and the Korean War they settled in Oceanside and raised their 2 children, Nancy Whalen and Michael “Mickey” Keefe. Joan has 4 grandsons, Michael Keefe, David O’Neil, Patrick Keefe (Sarah) and Ian Whalen whom she loved dearly She has 6 great grandchildren she adored, Brett, Dylan, Christopher, Justine, Theo and Avi. While Joan was a full time mother, she was active in many volunteer positions including PTA, Red Cross and pink lady at South Nassau Community Hospital. Joan then returned to work at South Nassau Community Hospital in the EKG Department for 30 years, most of that time as supervisor of the department. While actively attending to her children and working as a Supervisor at South Nassau, she decided to go to Adelphi University and in 1983, graduated with a BA in Business Administration. Joan was a life long active parishioner at St. Anthony’s Church and at retirement increased her participation at church. Joan served as a Trustee, on the Finance Committee, as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar server, RCIA, Ministry of Consolation and the Feast of St.Anthony. Joan and Ralph loved to travel and were fortunate to be able to visit many states in the USA, most countries in Europe, Russia, the Caribbean islands, South America and Bermuda. They also loved NYC, going to museums and theatre. Joan was never happier than when she was hosting a party, a dinner or a gathering of friends. She was a kind, caring, loving person who will be greatly missed. She touched many lives and left everyone better for having known her.