Joan Anderson, age 83, of Orlando, Florida passed away on Friday, February 28, 2020 after an extremely brave year-long battle with cancer. She was born in Astoria, Queens, New York on March 13, 1936. She moved to South Florida in the 1950s after falling in love with the warm weather while on vacation. She retired from the Broward County Clerk of Courts and moved to Orlando in 2001.
Joan loved to travel, and visited Italy four times, along with other European countries, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In 2006, she attended an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican. She also traveled the United States extensively in her early adulthood. An Elvis fan, she fulfilled her dream to visit Graceland twice.
Joan loved dining out and watching television, especially Home Improvement, cooking, and court shows. She loved to shop and was an astute bargain hunter. She was an avid Disney fan, and visited seven of the Disney theme parks around the world.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Edward Joseph Anderson and Grace Caroline (Meissner) Anderson; her brother, Edward Joseph Anderson, Jr.; her daughter, Valerie (Wagner) Gonsalves; and her grandson, David Gonsalves.
Joan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Crisanda and Albert Bravo; her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Glenda Wagner; and her son, Eugene Whalen, along with her granddaughters, Melissa Wagner, Angela Wagner, and Jade Bravo; and her great-granddaughter, Juliana Peraza. She is also survived by her best friend of 40 years, Florence Regan, who was like a sister to her.
Joan was a lifelong animal lover, particularly dogs. She leaves four dogs, Nala, Simba, Coyote, and Freckles, and a cat, Simon, to continue to be loved and spoiled by her daughter.
In lieu of flowers, Joan's family has asked for donations to an animal organization of the donor's choice, or to fund cancer research.
To share a memory of Joan or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.