Joan Miriam (Vaughan) Seander

Blessed are those who give meaning 

to our lives 

Holy and precious is the example 

they leave behind . . . 

It is with a profound sense of loss that we acknowledge the passing of our dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Joan Miriam {Vaughan) Seander. She was the daughter of the late Miriam (Donovan) Vaughan and Harry F Vaughan Sr. Predeceased by her brother Harry Jr. and her eldest daughter M. Ileana (Seander) Welte. Survived by her son Michael Seander (Mary), her daughter Leslie Seander Hamilton (Jack) and her grandchildren Marisa, Michael Jr, Ilise, Gillian, Rachel and great granddaughter Brielle, as well as niece Lisbeth, nephew Mark, sister-in-law Joan, and numerous cousins.

Joan was a true “renaissance” woman. She was a respected and beloved foreign language teacher/administrator for the Newport School Department, retiring in1989 after 38 years of service. Having a lifelong love of music and the arts, she was an early proponent/supporter of the Newport Music Festivals. Joan traveled extensively and especially loved her trips to her beloved France with her students and later in her life, with her daughter Ileana. She was a classically trained singer and talented watercolor artist. In addition to her numerous interests, her greatest joy was spending precious time with her 5 grandchildren and great grandchild. She loved them beyond measure. 

All who crossed her path in life will miss her intelligence, compassion, quick wit, and flair for the dramatic. We are sure she is wreaking some havoc up there in heaven. 

Per Joan’s longstanding and very firm request, services were held privately with immediate family present only. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association (beavertaillight.org.).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan Miriam (Vaughan) Seander, please visit our floral store.