Joanna Mary Bernadette Ahern, born June 20, 1950, passed into the great beyond on January 30, 2026, on a warm, sunny day overlooking a peaceful tropical courtyard garden in Florida, surrounded by love.

Joanna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth and kindness touched many lives. She shared many adventures with her husband, Theodore Knapp, enjoying time spent on woodworking projects, tending to gardens, and attending concerts together.

Joanna attended Schenevus Central School and went on to study Music, Sociology, and Psychology at SUNY New Paltz, where she played the baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, and clarinet. Her love of music and understanding of people stayed with her throughout her life, from school bands to family gatherings and community events. She was also actively involved in the music production industry, contributing to staging and performance events and sharing her creativity and energy with the community.

Her greatest pride and joy was her daughter, Bridget Rose Farruggia-Fullan, and her husband John Fullan. Joanna adored her grandson, Samuel John Fullan (Sammy), who brought immense happiness to her life.

Joanna's career was in human services. She worked on the inpatient psychiatry unit at Bassett Medical Center and later took several years away from her career when Bridget was born so she could be home and raise her daughter. She eventually returned to her calling in human services, working as a long-term care coordinator and caseworker for the Department of Social Services and later retiring as a caseworker for Otsego County, New York, where she provided care and coordination for many people in the community, passing on her knowledge and guidance to those she served. Joanna delivered these services in a supportive and loving manner, always guided by compassion.

Joanna was also deeply committed to healing the world and serving her community. She participated in women's full moon drumming groups, served on her town planning board, practiced environmental activism, promoted peace, and offered endless prayers for the universe. Through these efforts, she carried a quiet but powerful hope for a kinder and more harmonious world.

She will be remembered for her loving spirit, her dedication to family, and the comfort she brought to those around her. May her soul rest among the winds of her beloved Mother Earth, her love and prayers continuing to nurture the world she cherished.

A graveside service will be 1 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 2026 at the Elk Creek Cemetery, corner of Badeau Hill Road and County Route 34, Schenevus.