Joan Barndt Obituary
Joan Carolyn (Foster) Barndt passed away peacefully, on Feb. 24, 2018, in the company of her family, at the Elizabeth Hughes Memory Care Unit at Harvest Hill, in Lebanon, NH, her home for the past 6 ½ years. The daughter of Alfred D. and Rita (Donahue) Foster, Joan was born in Boston, MA, attended Quincy and Salem High Schools, and Colby College.
She then became a stewardess for American Airlines, where she met passenger Walter Barndt, who would become her beloved husband of 67 years. Her love of travel and culture took her all over the world. She particularly loved the years the family spent in London, England, traveling throughout Europe, as well as several visits to Australia and South Africa.
While living in England, Joan produced a number of large Brass rubbings, which she exhibited when she returned to the States, and one of which is now on permanent display at The Woodlands. Upon the family's return from London, Joan worked for several years at Decor International, on Newbury St., in Boston, and then several more years at Marblehead Handprints.
When Joan and Walter moved to CT in the late 70s, Joan co-founded Hello New Haven – a sort of upscale Welcome Wagon, introducing families to the cultural gems of the city. Joan was also very active in the Friends of the Library, both in Topsfield, MA, and in Grantham, NH, where she and Walter retired to in the early 90s.
Joan was an artist in all she did – she loved to cook and entertain, draw, paint, decorate and sew – and was an avid tennis player into her 80s. She also loved to sing, and astounded everyone by knowing the words to almost every song from the 20s to the 50s. She was also a world-class whistler, a skill much coveted by her daughters!
Joan was known for her graciousness, and cheerful, game attitude. She passionately effused appreciation for the beauty of the world, and the deliciousness of the meals she enjoyed. She loved her family, her lifelong friends from Colby, the many friends in many places, as well as the many family cats and dogs (and a couple of Australian Fainting Goats), She was also particularly fond of her father's home in Nelson, NH, 'The Farm'.
Joan is survived by her husband, Walter D. Barndt, Jr.; daughter Beth Barndt and spouse, Vincent Mulac; daughter Mary-Dana Bentley and her husband, Bob; grandson Anthony Simanskas and his fiancee, Meg Spellman, and her daughter, Shayla; her grandaughter Kara Simanskas and her partner, Dave Nihan; her nieces Amy Bartell and Leslie Peterson, and nephew Douglas McPhail.
She is predeceased by her sister Nancy Dana McPhail, and their parents, Al and Rita Foster. The family wishes to express enormous gratitude to the staff at Harvest Hill; Dr, Furmanski and her Care Team; and Bayada Hospice staff for their great care, love and kindness during these last years and days of Joan's wonderful life.
A memorial celebration of Joan's life will be held sometime in the spring or summer, in Nelson, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
