Joan L. Carcia, 65, Active in Fraternal Order of Police

She was born September 8, 1945 in Lorain and had been a lifelong resident of the Sheffield Lake and Lorain areas.

Joan graduated from Brookside High School in Sheffield. In the 1970's, she worked as a secretary at St. Thomas School in Sheffield Lake.

Joan was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Sheffield Lake where she helped with charity events such as bingo and Las Vegas nights.

She was a member and current president of the Fraternal Order of Police Chapter #79 and also held office in the state FOP. Joan created the Officer Garcia program with the Sheffield Lake Police Department which uses a small robot police officer for programs for children and events in the area.

Joan was a member of the USO and was in charge of her neighborhood watch program. She enjoyed tracing her family genealogy, being on the computer and arts and crafts.

She is survived by her son John (Tracie) McBride of North Olmsted, stepchildren Joyce (Tom) Jacquet of Avon and Julie Garcia of Lorain, grandchildren Sean, Dan, Anne and Andrew McBride, Johnny Garcia, Meredith Garcia-Painter, Marissa Garcia and Christopher Kilrain and brothers John Taft of Florida and Perry Taft of Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Garcia in 2001, parents Burrell and Nancy Taft (nee Lescher) and brother Burrell Taft.

The family will receive friends Monday 3-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 9:15 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 521 Harris Rd., Sheffield Lake. The Rev. Stephen Shields, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Fraternal Order of Police, c/o Sheffield Lake Police Department, 609 Harris Rd., Sheffield Lake, OH. 44054.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.