Obituary of Joan H. Cassick

Joan Helene Cassick (Rooke), daughter of the late Albert Rooke and Helene (Lee), wife of the late Joseph Glen Cassick has passed into peace after 91 years on Saturday, January 18, 2025. She was born August 12th, 1933, in Rutland, Vermont. After graduating from Whitehall High School, she went on to earn her nursing degree from St. Peter's. It was on the train ride back and forth from Albany to Whitehall that she met the love of her life. He was handing out tickets. She took the ride. They married October 1st, 1955 at the Skene Manor and remained in a beautiful love affair until Joseph's unexpected passing in 2005. In their 50 years together, they set the gold standard for a healthy, loving marriage. It was no secret how "active" their love was and remained until their final day together (Joe would want you to know). They were committed to each other and family. Their bond was unbreakable. There was not a day in the last 19 years that Joan did not mourn his loss, but she went on to care for her family as he would have wanted, pushing through her own pain with grace, to ensure she taught us all that we needed to know. Joan, Joanie, Mom, Mommy, Nanny... will be missed by many and has left behind a great legacy after this life worth living. Joan was a creator. She could bring beauty to this world in a way that inspired others. From a dim-lit ambiance to a stunning outfit (on the daily) and her intricately arranged florals, often made with only what she could forage in the yard, Joan had a "way." She was a collector, hunter of beautiful things, lover of music, and curated a life of beauty for herself and those she loved. This gift of vision she passed down to others, and we will all continue to live a rich life as Joan has shown us that the greatest treasures in life are free. The birds at the feeder, roadside wildflowers, children laughing, the fall foliage and a full table that is well dressed in a space put together with a "good eye" from a meal cooked together. But most important, that time spent with family and friends was true wealth. Joan taught us that family is not an important thing; it is everything and to rejoice and to be glad in it. If you've sat at a Cassick dinner, you've experienced this truth. She was stoic, kind, quick-witted, and good-willed. She did not play into conflict or differences. Instead, she remained steadfast through life's challenges and provided a balance point to keep us all together. Her lessons and the love she and Joseph cultivated will continue to grow through us (with the sun, and the rain, and the apple seed). Joan is celebrated by her six children: Martina (Jeffrey) Brewbaker, Pamela (Michael) Rabbia, Mary Franze, Stephan (Melinda) Cassick, Julie (David) Greeley, and Jennifer Wilson (Jeffrey Whiteside); 13 grandchildren: Brianne, Samantha, Lukas, Carly, Christina, Michael John, Daniel, Bryan, Stacy, Andrew, Tyler, Owen, and Colin; and 8 great-grandchildren: Olive, Sylvie, Carragen, Conrad, Tucker, Cade, Joseph, Maggie, and little boy Cassick, due this February. She will be missed by her sister Christine Seiling, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends, especially her most cherished, Holly Grande and Maria Nadoraski. Let us not forget that Joan is survived by her beloved teams, the Giants and the Mets. May they win their respective championships in 2025, so she can rest in peace. Amen. Ja Kocham Cie Mommy A celebration of her life will be held in the spring.