Private graveside services celebrating the life of Joan Marie (Kiska) Vance, 94, of Newark, will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with Fr. Tom Gardner as celebrant.

Joan passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. Ann's Hospital on Thursday, January 29, 2026.  She was born in Lorain, Ohio on July 17, 1931, to the late Paul William and Mary (Brezina) Kiska.

Joan was a graduate of Lorain St. Mary High School and received her RN degree at St. Alexis Hospital in Cleveland. She started her career as a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital and eventually at Licking Memorial Hospital for many years, in addition to being one of the first employees at the LPN nursing home. She was a longtime devoted parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and was involved in several organizations through the Church. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, and most of all spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joan will be greatly missed by her children, Paula (Tom) Lehman, Bill (Melissa) Vance, and Pam (Tony) Gialdini; grandchildren, Brianne (Matthew) Paternoster, Andrew Vance, Kylie (Spencer) Magers, Nicholas (Ally) Gialdini, and Matthew Gialdini; great-grandchildren, Bristol, Blake, and Harrison; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Traian Vance; and brother, David (Donna) Kiska.