Joan Marie Broestler

Joan Marie Broestler, beloved matriarch and patriarch of the Broestler family has passed away. Surrounded by her family in the comfort of her own home, under the care of Compassus Hospice, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

Joan was predeceased by her mother Sophie, and her father Martin, survived by her two sons, Derek and Chris, Chris’s wife Kim, sister Lisa, nephew Brian and his wife Angie and grandchildren Cassidy, Tyler and Joanna, along with extended family in the states of New York, Connecticut, and South Carolina.

Joan was a hard-working single parent for many years. While in pursuit of her nursing degree, her family watched her two sons so she could dedicate her time to her studies as well as working long hours on the weekend. Her hard work and dedication paid off and she graduated Armstrong with a Bachelorette of Nursing. More long hours were put in so she could afford her family with a new house, car and other luxuries. Joan worked for some time at St. Joseph's but eventually ended up working at Memorial of Savannah, and shortly became an accomplished cardiac ICU nurse. She thrived and excelled in that field, making many work friends, as well as life-long friends along the way of her patients and coworkers. The many years working at Memorial, Joan helped save many lives, and her extended work family grew. She also taught her knowledge to students from Armstrong as a nursing instructor for many years. She retired from Memorial on April 1, 2020, and to this day many of her work family still talk about her and miss her.

Joan was not only a wonderful parent, teaching her children along the years how to be a kind and good natured but how to treat others fairly and respectfully. She was a confidant to her family and friends. She was the editor for her children reviewing homework and essays, but most importantly she loved spending time with her family on her days away from the hospital.

She was a lover of all types of music, sharing this love with her children throughout the years. She shared interest to watch movies from her childhood and early adulthood with her youngest son and loved a playful and sarcastic banter with her eldest. She enjoyed traveling and visiting relative’s pre-pandemic. Some of her favorite travels included a trip to Las Vegas with her sister Lisa, and a trip with her youngest son to New York shortly after September 11th . An opportunity presented itself where she was able to take in her father in the later years of his life. They were able to catch up on many years of missed opportunities due to the distance between them. As the years went on, her along with her two sons helped take care of her father until his passing in 2013 (check the date)!!!

After her retirement, she was cautious of the ongoing Covid pandemic, having to put many family functions on hold, also limiting the amount of time spent together as a family and with her new granddaughter. Years prior to the pandemic, the family would come over to her house for holidays. Along with delicious food, the family would play catch up, and we would all spend time together. Once she retired from working, and the pandemic was in full swing, she would often say *we'll get together and spend time together once this is all over and done with." Unfortunately, that time never came, and she was taken from us far too soon. Those who knew Joan, take this time not to mourn her, but to celebrate the family member, work family and friend that she was.

Many special thanks to Dr Dolar, Publix pharmacy, the wonderful staff at Memorial Hospital of Savannah and Compassus Hospice care. With the request of Joan, no services will be held, but to be fondly remembered and celebrated at family function and everyday living for her remaining family members. In lieu of sending flowers and other items, Joan would rather some positivity be brought about of her passing by donating to some of her favorite charities.

American Cancer Society-
https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=honormemorialbutton&giftType=hon&_ga=2.38980193.318131
802.1650420694-1555644234.1650420693

Compassus Hospice- https://compassuslivingfoundation.org/give/

Aspca- https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-honor-sl-p1?ms=MP_PMK_GooglebrandHonorSL-
T4&initialms=MP_PMK_GooglebrandHonorSL-
T4&pcode=WEBHONORSLPPC&ds_rl=1066461&gclid=CjwKCAjwu_mSBhAYEiwA5BBmf2JyXRQg3xJHZvHl
cEXGpZEtrOj2TzCWDggM_akPLox0xJH4YkXoPxoCekQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

St Judes- https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html