Obituary: Joan M. Behrens-Grimm

Joan M. Behrens-Grimm, of Haddonfield, died on March, 25, after a long battle with throat cancer.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph Grimm Jr.; sisters, Mollie Mandle of Cherry Hill, Ellen Hippesteel of Honesdale Pa.; nephew, John Linder of Lebanon Or.;nieces Elizabeth Greer of Gibbsboro, Leslie Jonas of Quakertown, Pa., Tracey Rush of South Pines, N.C. 

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Joan grew up on a Pocono Farm before graduating from Honesdale High (1957) and Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art to pursue a design career in New York, and even an internship at the CIA.

Joan moved to Haddonfield in 1968 to help Mollie’s young family with a health emergency. Matched with Joe in 1972 by friends, the couple remained inseparable for 40 years, and notably in 1999 when Joan left as program manger at the University of Pennsylvania to beat one and later a second, breast cancer.

Throughout these times her family, friends and medical staff alike would marvel at Joan’s sunny disposition in any weather.

A graveside service will be announced later in the spring at Haddonfield Baptist Cemetery.