Joan Gilliar Johnson

Longtime East Marion resident Joan Gilliar Johnson died April 3 at her home. She was 82. 

Ms. Johnson was born Jan. 2, 1933, at Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing to Delia (Hemmy) and Frank Gilliar. She graduated from Great Neck High School in 1950.

Ms. Johnson received her registered nursing diploma in 1953 from Lenox Hill Hospital School of Nursing. Family members said she was an advocate for mental health and became certified in psychiatric and mental health nursing, specializing in elder care early in her career. She served as director of nursing at Brook Lane Psychiatric Center in Hagerstown, Md. and later worked as a psychiatric nurse at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport through the late 1990s.

She married Herbert Johnson Jr. Feb. 12, 1955, at St. Aloysius R.C. Church in Great Neck.

Family members said Ms. Johnson enjoyed reading, doing crosswords, taking trips to Foxwoods Casino and Montauk and attending family gatherings.

Ms. Johnson was predeceased by her husband Jan. 10, 2013; her daughter Joanne Tyson in 2008; her son Erik in 2013; and her sister, Catherine Jessup, in 1981. She is survived by her daughters Karin, of Montauk, Bridget, of Port Washington and Jennifer, of Brooklyn, Conn.; her son, Christopher, of Shoreham; her brothers, Frank Gilliar of Islip Terrace and Raymond Gilliar of Great Neck; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were private and handled by Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.

Memorial donations may be made to Southold Animal Shelter, 269 Peconic Lane, Peconic, NY 11958 or St. Therese of Lisieux R.C. Church, P.O. Box 5027, Montauk, NY 11954.