Joan Lavin (née Welch), age 91, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, in Lisle, Illinois. She was born on March 18, 1934, in Jackson, Ohio, to Velva Welch (Exline) and Saul Raymond Welch.

Joan grew up on her family farm in Jackson. She attended a one-room schoolhouse until her junior year of high school. She rode the bus into town for her senior year. After graduation, she took a train to Washington, D.C. and worked for the FBI for one year. She later attended Lee College in Tennessee before she moved to Chicago to live with her sister, Christine, and work for Scripture Press.

In Chicago, Joan met Ronald T. Lavin at a Sadie Hawkins Party. They were married on December 27, 1959. Their marriage reflected love and devotion from beginning to end. They raised five daughters and moved 18 times in the first 25 years of marriage. Joan made a home with Ron and the girls in each location. She served her family as a faithful and loving wife and mother. Later on, she worked in a college cafeteria and the family restaurant.

An exceptionally gifted seamstress, Joan lovingly sewed most of her family's clothing for many years. She sewed all five of her daughters' wedding dresses and countless bridesmaid dresses with remarkable attention to detail, evident in every stitch.

Joan's greatest joy was caring for others and was gifted at bringing people together. She organized events for women at church and led a Bible Study Fellowship group for many years. She and Ron regularly opened their home to long term guests, immigrants, missionaries, and friends. She always welcomed people to her home for fellowship and conversation. She found great delight spending time with people, remembering their names and listening to their story, being grateful for all the many gifts God gave her.

Joan is survived by her beloved husband, Ronald T. Lavin; her children Janet (Joe) Schopen, Joyce (Don) Mansfield, Jean (Dave) Fish, Jodi (Andy) Keller, and Jennifer (Brad) Vidal; 19 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, and her beloved granddaughter, Shannon Caba.
Joan will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, joyful sense of humor, radiant smile, and deep gratitude for life. Her faith in and love for Jesus Christ shone brightly through her words and actions, touching all who knew her.

A viewing will be held at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, Illinois, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. An additional visitation will be held at Grace Pointe Church, 1320 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, Illinois, on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 10:00. Interment will follow at Lisle Cemetery.