Obituary of Elizabeth Joan Spencer

Elizabeth Joan Spencer, known to all as "Joan," passed away at the age of 96, peacefully, on February 16, 2016 in Swampscott, MA. She was born to Frank W.O'Shaughnessy and Matilda Tobin O'Shaughnessy on September 9, 1919 in Buffalo, NY. She had been a long time resident of Syracuse, NY, having resided in the city for over 67 years. In august of 2015 she left her beloved Syracuse to reside closer to herdaughter in Massachusetts. When Joan was but an infant her mother died from complications of childbirth. Before her death, Joan's mother asked her four cousins, all sisters from Thorold, Ontario, to care for and raise Joan. This was a pivotal episode of Joan's life. Living with the "Aunts" as she called the cousins, was to become an interesting, challenging, and wonderful time in her life. Her high school education in Canada having been more intense, could be completed by the age of 16. Upon graduation, she attended and graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, majoring in fine arts and graphic design. She would devote so much of her life to her art, which she worked on in various forms her entire life. Joan worked in New York City as a fashion illustrator for various designers and stores. She designed Christmas and greeting cards for Hallmark and designed advertising for American Airlines. She also worked at Sperry Gyroscope and Sylvania Electric during WWII, drafting designs and plans for military hardware and ships. In 1948, she married Howard F. Spencer Sr. with whom she would spend 62 happy and devoted years together until his death in April 2007. Joan and Howard lived all of their married life in Syracuse. She continued with her art and became an award winning watercolorist. She displayed her work all throughout Central New York and beyond. As an accomplished golfer and tennis player, she and Howard were members of the Bellevue Country Club. She was also a member of the Westvale Garden Club, a founding member of "The Flys," and an avid bridge player. Joan and her family were long time communicants of St. Ann's Church. Joan is predeceased by her parents, her husband Howard F. Spencer Sr., her siblings Francis, James, Mary and Margaret O'Shaughnessy, and her daughter Karen Spencer McFadden. She is survived by her daughter Shaun Forsyth (Richard) of Marblehead, MA; her son Howard F. Spencer Jr. (Christine) of Syracuse, NY; and her son Christopher Spencer (Sara) of Manitowoc, WI. Also survived by grandchildren Sarah Spencer, Trey Spencer (Jessica); Tom Spencer (Patty); Natalia Forsyth; Kirk Forsyth (Gretchen); Terrance McFadden; Christopher Spencer (Emily); Nicholas Spencer and Elizabeth Spencer; and five great grandchildren. Joan had such a great sense of humor and striking wit, she was so much fun. Joan will be missed by her family and loved ones. A memorial service will be held in her honor at St. Ann's Church, 4471 Onondaga Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13219 on May 21st at 9:30 AM. She will be interned with her husband at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Syracuse, NY. Any donations in memory of Joan's life should be made to Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, 300 Burt St., Syracuse NY 13202.