Joan Young Burrough

Born in New York, New York on April 8, 1930
Departed in Melbourne, Florida on September 1, 2019

Joan Young Burrough, 89, of Melbourne, Florida passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on September 1, 2019. Joan was born on April 8, 1930 to Edna Swanson Young and George Young in Jamaica Queens, N.Y. On January 7th, 1950, she married James Dudley Burrough with whom she had 8 children and raised them in West Islip, N.Y. Joan and Jim were very active in the Catholic Church in West Islip, acting as Pre Cana Marriage advisors to many engaged couples over the years. In 1980, after Jim experienced some health issues, they moved to Florida where they continued their involvement with a close Catholic church community. Joan and Jim were married for 53 years until Jim’s death in 2003. Jim was the love of Joan’s life but she continued their legacy through her devotion to their 8 children and their spouses, 26 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Joan was a passionate person who worked tirelessly and successfully to raise children who were more than siblings but close friends and confidants. She raised them to be faithful, loyal, confident and self-sufficient. She taught them how to be loving parents to their own children, thus continuing her tender legacy for the next generations. Joan loved holidays – Christmas, Easter, birthdays, whatever the calendar brought – and always made those occasions joyful, magical, family gatherings. She had an ability to make each of her 8 children feel special and uniquely loved. Joan was an avid reader with endless curiosity. Her literary interest ranged from the Bible to the Encyclopedia Britannica to the latest Best Seller. She was delightfully open minded and willing to accept new ideas and changing norms with a generous heart. In 2012 she undertook a new endeavor and published her first book – a memoir entitled Tales from The Immature Jackass (a clever contraction of her maiden name, Young, and married name, Burrough). This memoir is loaded with colorful, sentimental, shocking and amusing memories from her early years as a child and young parent. These stories are treasures to her children and grandchildren. Joan was always looking for a more clever, creative, or ingenious way to tackle an irksome problem and she was most often successful.

Joan is survived by her daughter Cyndi Chanou and her husband Michalis Chanou of Melbourne, FL and their 3 children and 8 grandchildren, daughter Kate Hoffner and her husband Matt Hoffner of Diamond Cove, ME and their 3 children and 4 grandchildren, daughter Drusilla Cyphers and her husband Steve Cyphers of Port Jefferson, NY and their 5 children and 4 grandchildren, daughter Stephanie Corcoran and husband Gene Corcoran of Indialantic, FL and their 2 sons and 4 grandchildren, son Chris Burrough and wife Amy Addington of Belfast, ME and their 4 children and 1 grandchild, daughter Maripat Zdrojeski and her husband Tom Zdrojeski of Massapequa Park, NY and their 3 children and 3 grandchildren, daughter Theresa Bolster and her husband Dave Bolster of Chesapeake, VA and their 3 children and son Mark Burrough and his wife Marie Burrough of Melbourne, FL and their 2 children.

Joan said this small prayer each day: “Come Holy Spirit, fill me with love.” And that He did. Joan will be profoundly missed by her loving family and friends. A celebration of her life will be held on 9/16/19 at 11:30 AM at Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne, FL.

If you are interested, please consider making contribution in Joan’s memory to the Women’s Center, 1565 Sarno Road Suite C, Melbourne FL 32925 www.womenscenter.net