Joan Mary Harrington

Joan Mary (Hary) Harrington 78, of Clarksville, VA, departed to her eternal home December 20, 2019.She spent her final days at the Sentara MeadowView Terrace with assistance of Hospice in Clarksville, and her family by her side. She was born February 15, 1941 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Henry and Bertha (Gemach) Hary. She married James Harrington on October 10, 1960. Joan was a long-time resident of Herndon, VA where she lived from the age of 30 till retiring at the age of 64, from Fairfax County Public Schools.As a teenager Joan was a member of the Pittsburgh Water Babies water ballet team, life guarded and taught swim lessons. Joan was a member and officer of the Herndon Women’s Club. She loved to volunteer and contributed a lot of her time to her church, local schools, coaching her children’s youth sports, girl scouts, the American Red Cross where she established many courses for adults and children to learn First-Aid and CPR since the 1970s.She was a member of all her church Choirs and Bell Choir and was a Eucharistic minister where she served the Butner prisons.She was an honorary member of the Herndon Chamber of Commerce and helped at a number of local charities including American Cancer Society Relay for Life as a survivor.Joan established the “Sing Around the Christmas Tree” in Herndon, having Santa arrive on a Fire Engine to hand out candy canes.She worked as the Faith Development Director for St. Joseph’s Church in Herndon.She then moved to Hillsborough, NC to be closer to her grandchildren and then her last residence at their longtime vacation home in Clarksville, VA. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a sister & brother in-law Ruth (Bob) Seeburger and brother in-law, Frank Stecher.Surviving is her husband of 59 years, James Harrington, her daughter Carole (Wesley) Higdon of Clarksville, VA and son, Michael Harrington of Lawrenceville, GA; three granddaughters Heather (Jeff) Craft of Clayton, NC; Shelby Higdon of Hermosa Beach, CA; Emily Harrington of Marietta, GA; one grandson Sean Harrington of Buford, GA.; three great grandchildren Kinley, Brennan and Darren Craft.Three sisters Rosemarie Stecher of Pittsburgh, PA; Charlotte (Jim) Tulenko of Pittsburgh, PA; Margie (Sam) Ross of Cannonsburg, PA; two brothers Henry (Jeanne) Hary of Pittsburgh, PA; Robert (Marlena) Hary of Acme, PA, sister in-law, Karen (Harrington) (Bob) Marzano of Ortley, NJ as well as many, many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. The visitation is from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, December 27, 2019 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home, Clarksville. A Catholic funeral mass will be held the following day at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2019, at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Clarksville. The burial will be at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, McMurry, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Mecklenburg County Cancer Association (MCCA) PO Box 311, Chase City, VA 23924 or Sentara Halifax Hospice 2204 Wilborn Ave, South Boston, VA 24592.