Mrs. Joan M Hurley's Favorites

What were Joan's favorite foods?

Shrimp & Supper Love
Mom loved shrimp. She often joked that she could eat her weight in it—and honestly,... Read more Shrimp & Supper Love
Mom loved shrimp. She often joked that she could eat her weight in it—and honestly, some days, I believed... Read more Shrimp & Supper Love
Mom loved shrimp. She often joked... Read more

What were Joan's favorite drinks?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Mom’s 5 o’clock tradition
Mom loved her whiskey and Diet 7-Up! Even toward the end, she still loved her ... Read more Mom’s 5 o’clock tradition
Mom loved her whiskey and Diet 7-Up! Even toward the end, she still loved her 5:00 pm cocktail. It ... Read more Mom’s 5 o’clock tradition
Mom loved her whiskey and... Read more

What were Joan's favorite books?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Love for Stories
Mom was an avid reader throughout her life, always finding comfort and joy within the... Read more A Love for Stories
Mom was an avid reader throughout her life, always finding comfort and joy within the pages of a good book.... Read more A Love for Stories
Mom was an avid reader throughout... Read more

What were Joan's favorite songs or musical artists?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Musical Tradition
Mom's love of music started early. As a young girl, she sang in church and even recorded... Read more A Musical Tradition
Mom's love of music started early. As a young girl, she sang in church and even recorded a 78 rpm in 1951,... Read more A Musical Tradition
Mom's love of music started early.... Read more

What were Joan's favorite tv shows?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Evening Tradition
While Dad worked nights, Mom, Deb, and I would cozy up in the basement and watch TV together.... Read more Evening Tradition
While Dad worked nights, Mom, Deb, and I would cozy up in the basement and watch TV together. It became our... Read more Evening Tradition
While Dad worked nights, Mom, Deb,... Read more

What were Joan's favorite movies?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Her Favorite Films
Mom was never much for Hollywood movies—but her favorite films were the ones that truly... Read more Her Favorite Films
Mom was never much for Hollywood movies—but her favorite films were the ones that truly mattered: the family... Read more Her Favorite Films
Mom was never much for Hollywood... Read more

What were Joan's favorite artists or styles of art?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Collector of Masterpieces
Mom had a deep appreciation for art—especially when it came from her most favorite... Read more A Collector of Masterpieces
Mom had a deep appreciation for art—especially when it came from her most favorite artists: her littlest... Read more A Collector of Masterpieces
Mom had a deep appreciation... Read more

What were Joan's favorite sports teams?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Good Sport
Let’s be honest—Mom wasn’t exactly a die-hard sports fan. But she had a quiet way of showing... Read more A Good Sport
Let’s be honest—Mom wasn’t exactly a die-hard sports fan. But she had a quiet way of showing up for the people she... Read more A Good Sport
Let’s be honest—Mom wasn’t exactly a ... Read more

What were Joan's favorite games to play?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Puzzle Master
Mom had a true love for puzzles. She could spend hours patiently fitting together the tiniest,... Read more A Puzzle Master
Mom had a true love for puzzles. She could spend hours patiently fitting together the tiniest, most challenging... Read more A Puzzle Master
Mom had a true love for puzzles. She... Read more

What were Joan's favorite performances to watch?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

The Best Seats in the House
Mom and Dad were longtime season ticket holders at Drury Lane, and she absolutely... Read more The Best Seats in the House
Mom and Dad were longtime season ticket holders at Drury Lane, and she absolutely loved going to ... Read more The Best Seats in the House
Mom and Dad were longtime... Read more

What were Joan's favorite ways to spend free time?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Cherished Pastimes
Mom spent her free time creating the most beautiful flower gardens—so immaculate that not even a weed dared to grow. She loved getting lost in a good book or piecing together a challenging puzzle, but her absolute favorite moments were spent talking on the phone with her best friend, Arlene, and simply being with family.

As long as it was with family, she was always up for a good adventure—whether it was a whirlwind weekend road trip from Chicago to Talladega, Alabama with seven of us smashed into a station wagon, or a quiet afternoon on the patio with Dad and whoever happened to stop by. She thrived in those moments of connection.

Mom also took great pride in being the Chief Cook when the family came together for a big project—like finishing (more than one) basement. She kept everyone well-fed, on task, and in good spirits. With a mix of love and just the right amount of authority, she kept things moving so no one gave up and said “to hell with it” when the going got tough.

She treasured every laugh, every conversation, every whip cracked in good fun, and every shared memory with the people she loved most.

Cherished Pastimes
Mom spent her free time creating the most beautiful flower gardens—so immaculate that... Read more Cherished Pastimes
Mom spent her free time creating the most beautiful flower gardens—so immaculate that not even a weed dared... Read more Cherished Pastimes
Mom spent her free time creating... Read more

What were Joan's favorite ways to exercise?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Keep Moving
Mom firmly believed that to keep living, you had to keep moving—and move she did. She walked... Read more Keep Moving
Mom firmly believed that to keep living, you had to keep moving—and move she did. She walked and walked and walked.... Read more Keep Moving
Mom firmly believed that to keep living,... Read more

What were Joan's favorite vacation spots?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

Home, Horses, the “Blue Flu” and U turns
Mom loved going back home to Missouri to see her parents, five sisters, and the countless nieces and nephews who were always ready with a hug or a good story. Some of our trips started with Dad coming home from a night shift around midnight and asking, “Wanna go home?” Without missing a beat, Mom would toss a few things into a suitcase, get Debbie into the car, and Dad would carry me out, still asleep. They’d make the six-hour drive through the night, and I’d wake up in my grandma’s bed next to my sister—confused at first, but then thrilled when I realized we were off to ride horses with our cousins. Everything was instantly perfect.

Mom also loved camping trips with the Griffins. Our families were like one big happy unit, and those weekends were full of fun and laughter. I have a vivid memory from a 4th of July trip when I was about four. They bought a kiddie pool to keep me cool for my birthday—but it was so hot that I soon found all the adults sitting in my pool, while I was squished into a bucket trying to do my best at not melting. Mom laughed the hardest at moments like that & seemed to always have the camera ready to capture these precious memories.

Some of her favorite vacations were to the Ozarks with Granddad and the Whalen families. We’d ski on quiet coves in the glassy early mornings, then spend afternoons swimming while the grown-ups gathered around the legendary in-pool table. That table was reserved very early each morning—no outsiders allowed. It was basically on lockdown for the week.

As kids, we were sent to bed at a reasonable hour, but we knew the real fun had just begun. There was always talk of singing and dancing on the mini-golf course, and more than a few adults would wake up with the mysterious “Blue Flu” the next morning. We weren’t exactly sure what caused it, and we were probably better off that way. All we knew was that a good breakfast—especially Uncle Paul’s red-eye gravy—seemed to cure everything. And for Mom, being surrounded by family, laughter, and a little chaos was the best medicine of all.

And then there were our epic summer road trips. Every five years, Dad would earn ten weeks of vacation, and he’d take them during the summer so we could travel as a family while school was out. Those adventures were legendary. We saw so much of the country, and we could always count on a few things happening: Mom would have a cooler full of tuna salad sandwiches for our roadside picnics, and at some point, we’d get lost in a sketchy neighborhood and have to make a U-turn. Once we realized that always happened, it became a family tradition—we’d cheer and say, “It’s a vacation now!”

We stayed in motels with swimming pools, which Debbie and I thought was a huge treat. And Dad, with his classic brilliance, would give us two options at dinnertime: get out, get dressed, and go to a restaurant—or keep swimming while he grabbed a bucket of chicken to eat by the pool. Naturally, we chose the chicken and swimming every time, thinking we’d hit the jackpot. Mom and Dad had figured it out—we were thrilled, and they got a budget-friendly win.

Through all of it—road trips, poolside dinners, chaotic family gatherings, and midnight drives—Mom soaked in every moment. She loved being with her people. That joy, that laughter, that love of togetherness—that was her favorite destination all along.

Home, Horses, the “Blue Flu” and U turns
Mom loved going back home to Missouri to see her parents, five ... Read moresisters, and the countless nieces and nephews who were always ready with a hug or a good story. Some of our trips started with Dad coming home from a night shift around midnight and asking, “Wanna go home?” Without missing a beat, Mom would toss a few things into a suitcase, get Debbie into the car, and Dad would carry me out, still asleep. They’d make the six-hour drive through the night, and I’d wake up in my grandma’s bed next to my sister—confused at first, but then thrilled when I realized we were off to ride horses with our cousins. Everything was instantly perfect.

Mom also loved camping trips with the Griffins. Our families were like one big happy unit, and those weekends were full of fun and laughter. I have a vivid memory from a 4th of July trip when I was about four. They bought a kiddie pool to keep me cool for my birthday—but it was so hot that I soon found all the adults sitting in my pool, while I was squished into a bucket trying to do my best at not melting. Mom laughed the hardest at moments like that & seemed to always have the camera ready to capture these precious memories.

Some of her favorite vacations were to the Ozarks with Granddad and the Whalen families. We’d ski on quiet coves in the glassy early mornings, then spend afternoons swimming while the grown-ups gathered around the legendary in-pool table. That table was reserved very early each morning—no outsiders allowed. It was basically on lockdown for the week.

As kids, we were sent to bed at a reasonable hour, but we knew the real fun had just begun. There was always talk of singing and dancing on the mini-golf course, and more than a few adults would wake up with the mysterious “Blue Flu” the next morning. We weren’t exactly sure what caused it, and we were probably better off that way. All we knew was that a good breakfast—especially Uncle Paul’s red-eye gravy—seemed to cure everything. And for Mom, being surrounded by family, laughter, and a little chaos was the best medicine of all.

And then there were our epic summer road trips. Every five years, Dad would earn ten weeks of vacation, and he’d take them during the summer so we could travel as a family while school was out. Those adventures were legendary. We saw so much of the country, and we could always count on a few things happening: Mom would have a cooler full of tuna salad sandwiches for our roadside picnics, and at some point, we’d get lost in a sketchy neighborhood and have to make a U-turn. Once we realized that always happened, it became a family tradition—we’d cheer and say, “It’s a vacation now!”

We stayed in motels with swimming pools, which Debbie and I thought was a huge treat. And Dad, with his classic brilliance, would give us two options at dinnertime: get out, get dressed, and go to a restaurant—or keep swimming while he grabbed a bucket of chicken to eat by the pool. Naturally, we chose the chicken and swimming every time, thinking we’d hit the jackpot. Mom and Dad had figured it out—we were thrilled, and they got a budget-friendly win.

Through all of it—road trips, poolside dinners, chaotic family gatherings, and midnight drives—Mom soaked in every moment. She loved being with her people. That joy, that laughter, that love of togetherness—that was her favorite destination all along. Read less Home, Horses, the “Blue Flu” and U turns
Mom loved going back home to Missouri to see her parents, five sisters, and the countless... Read more nieces and nephews who were always ready with a hug or a good story. Some of our trips started with Dad coming home from a night shift around midnight and asking, “Wanna go home?” Without missing a beat, Mom would toss a few things into a suitcase, get Debbie into the car, and Dad would carry me out, still asleep. They’d make the six-hour drive through the night, and I’d wake up in my grandma’s bed next to my sister—confused at first, but then thrilled when I realized we were off to ride horses with our cousins. Everything was instantly perfect.

Mom also loved camping trips with the Griffins. Our families were like one big happy unit, and those weekends were full of fun and laughter. I have a vivid memory from a 4th of July trip when I was about four. They bought a kiddie pool to keep me cool for my birthday—but it was so hot that I soon found all the adults sitting in my pool, while I was squished into a bucket trying to do my best at not melting. Mom laughed the hardest at moments like that & seemed to always have the camera ready to capture these precious memories.

Some of her favorite vacations were to the Ozarks with Granddad and the Whalen families. We’d ski on quiet coves in the glassy early mornings, then spend afternoons swimming while the grown-ups gathered around the legendary in-pool table. That table was reserved very early each morning—no outsiders allowed. It was basically on lockdown for the week.

As kids, we were sent to bed at a reasonable hour, but we knew the real fun had just begun. There was always talk of singing and dancing on the mini-golf course, and more than a few adults would wake up with the mysterious “Blue Flu” the next morning. We weren’t exactly sure what caused it, and we were probably better off that way. All we knew was that a good breakfast—especially Uncle Paul’s red-eye gravy—seemed to cure everything. And for Mom, being surrounded by family, laughter, and a little chaos was the best medicine of all.

And then there were our epic summer road trips. Every five years, Dad would earn ten weeks of vacation, and he’d take them during the summer so we could travel as a family while school was out. Those adventures were legendary. We saw so much of the country, and we could always count on a few things happening: Mom would have a cooler full of tuna salad sandwiches for our roadside picnics, and at some point, we’d get lost in a sketchy neighborhood and have to make a U-turn. Once we realized that always happened, it became a family tradition—we’d cheer and say, “It’s a vacation now!”

We stayed in motels with swimming pools, which Debbie and I thought was a huge treat. And Dad, with his classic brilliance, would give us two options at dinnertime: get out, get dressed, and go to a restaurant—or keep swimming while he grabbed a bucket of chicken to eat by the pool. Naturally, we chose the chicken and swimming every time, thinking we’d hit the jackpot. Mom and Dad had figured it out—we were thrilled, and they got a budget-friendly win.

Through all of it—road trips, poolside dinners, chaotic family gatherings, and midnight drives—Mom soaked in every moment. She loved being with her people. That joy, that laughter, that love of togetherness—that was her favorite destination all along. Read less Home, Horses, the “Blue Flu” and U turns
Mom loved... Read more going back home to Missouri to see her parents, five sisters, and the countless nieces and nephews who were always ready with a hug or a good story. Some of our trips started with Dad coming home from a night shift around midnight and asking, “Wanna go home?” Without missing a beat, Mom would toss a few things into a suitcase, get Debbie into the car, and Dad would carry me out, still asleep. They’d make the six-hour drive through the night, and I’d wake up in my grandma’s bed next to my sister—confused at first, but then thrilled when I realized we were off to ride horses with our cousins. Everything was instantly perfect.

Mom also loved camping trips with the Griffins. Our families were like one big happy unit, and those weekends were full of fun and laughter. I have a vivid memory from a 4th of July trip when I was about four. They bought a kiddie pool to keep me cool for my birthday—but it was so hot that I soon found all the adults sitting in my pool, while I was squished into a bucket trying to do my best at not melting. Mom laughed the hardest at moments like that & seemed to always have the camera ready to capture these precious memories.

Some of her favorite vacations were to the Ozarks with Granddad and the Whalen families. We’d ski on quiet coves in the glassy early mornings, then spend afternoons swimming while the grown-ups gathered around the legendary in-pool table. That table was reserved very early each morning—no outsiders allowed. It was basically on lockdown for the week.

As kids, we were sent to bed at a reasonable hour, but we knew the real fun had just begun. There was always talk of singing and dancing on the mini-golf course, and more than a few adults would wake up with the mysterious “Blue Flu” the next morning. We weren’t exactly sure what caused it, and we were probably better off that way. All we knew was that a good breakfast—especially Uncle Paul’s red-eye gravy—seemed to cure everything. And for Mom, being surrounded by family, laughter, and a little chaos was the best medicine of all.

And then there were our epic summer road trips. Every five years, Dad would earn ten weeks of vacation, and he’d take them during the summer so we could travel as a family while school was out. Those adventures were legendary. We saw so much of the country, and we could always count on a few things happening: Mom would have a cooler full of tuna salad sandwiches for our roadside picnics, and at some point, we’d get lost in a sketchy neighborhood and have to make a U-turn. Once we realized that always happened, it became a family tradition—we’d cheer and say, “It’s a vacation now!”

We stayed in motels with swimming pools, which Debbie and I thought was a huge treat. And Dad, with his classic brilliance, would give us two options at dinnertime: get out, get dressed, and go to a restaurant—or keep swimming while he grabbed a bucket of chicken to eat by the pool. Naturally, we chose the chicken and swimming every time, thinking we’d hit the jackpot. Mom and Dad had figured it out—we were thrilled, and they got a budget-friendly win.

Through all of it—road trips, poolside dinners, chaotic family gatherings, and midnight drives—Mom soaked in every moment. She loved being with her people. That joy, that laughter, that love of togetherness—that was her favorite destination all along. Read less

What was Joan's favorite color?

Diana Hurley-Goodin

A Splash of Color
Mom was often seen wearing her favorite colors—soft pinks, vibrant corals and cheerful blues. She loved bright, happy tops that made her feel good, and her closet was always full of color, with a few floral patterns mixed in for good measure. She had a natural way of bringing warmth and light wherever she went.

Now—when it came to painting a wall inside the house, that was a different story entirely. She had to gently coerce Dad into agreeing to paint the walls anything other than eggshell, with his non-negotiable bright white ceilings. So, she chose what she called a “completely new” color… just a few shades darker than eggshell. When I came home to visit, I couldn’t even tell it had been painted—but she was so proud of her bold new choice and insisted it made a big difference.

A few years later, when it was time to paint again, Debbie talked her into going with a warm beige—something Dad wasn’t too fond of. But in true Mom fashion, if Deb thought it looked good, that was all she needed. She trusted her girls, loved a little change (as long as it wasn’t too wild), and always found joy in the little things—even a barely-there paint color.

A Splash of Color
Mom was often seen wearing her favorite colors—soft pinks, vibrant corals and cheerful... Read more A Splash of Color
Mom was often seen wearing her favorite colors—soft pinks, vibrant corals and cheerful blues. She loved bright,... Read more A Splash of Color
Mom was often seen wearing her favorite... Read more

Notifications

Mrs. Joan M Hurley

Joan's Favorites

What were Joan's favorite foods?

What were Joan's favorite drinks?

What were Joan's favorite books?

What were Joan's favorite songs or musical artists?

What were Joan's favorite tv shows?

What were Joan's favorite movies?

What were Joan's favorite artists or styles of art?

What were Joan's favorite sports teams?

What were Joan's favorite games to play?

What were Joan's favorite performances to watch?

What were Joan's favorite ways to spend free time?

What were Joan's favorite ways to exercise?

What were Joan's favorite vacation spots?

What was Joan's favorite color?

Send flowers

Add to her legacy

Share your memories

Get grief support

Send flowers

Add to her legacy

Share this memorial website

Notifications

Mrs. Joan M Hurley

Joan's Favorites

What were Joan's favorite foods?

What were Joan's favorite drinks?

What were Joan's favorite books?

What were Joan's favorite songs or musical artists?

What were Joan's favorite tv shows?

What were Joan's favorite movies?

What were Joan's favorite artists or styles of art?

What were Joan's favorite sports teams?

What were Joan's favorite games to play?

What were Joan's favorite performances to watch?

What were Joan's favorite ways to spend free time?

What were Joan's favorite ways to exercise?

What were Joan's favorite vacation spots?

What was Joan's favorite color?

Send flowers

Add to her legacy

Share your memories

Get grief support

Send flowers

Add to her legacy

Share this memorial website

Stay in the loop

Stay in the loop