| Date of Birth | May 14, 1934 |
| Passed Away | July 16, 2012 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | July 20, 2012 |
| Service Time | 11 A.M. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
JOAN C. WATCHES
HORNELL-Joan C. Watches, 78, of 7 Cameron Ave., went to be with the Lord early Monday morning (July 16, 2012) at Highland Hospital in Rochester.
Born in Warsaw on May 14, 1934, she was a daughter of the late John and Catherine Cammarata Wolcott. On Dec. 31, 1955 she was married at St. Joseph’s Church in Batavia to Chauncey Watches, who survives.
A former resident of Batavia, Joan was a graduate of Batavia High School, class of 1952 and the Deaconess Hospital School Of Nursing in Buffalo, class of 1955.
Joan has resided in Hornell since 1960 and was employed as a registered nurse and the Director of Nursing at the former Bethesda Community Hospital in North Hornell before she began her 15 year employment with St. James Mercy Hospital and for about the past five years she was employed part time as an instructor for the nursing program at Steuben-Allegany BOCES in Hornell.
She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and a member of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Joan was also a member of the Ladies of Columbus, the St. James Hospital Auxiliary, the Italian-American Womens Club, a founding member, treasurer and coach of the Maple City Softball, a former group leader and a member of the Board of Directors of the Hornell Area Campfire, a former den mother for the Boy Scouts of America and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Hornell YMCA.
Her family includes her husband of 56 years, Chauncey; her eight children, Chauncey (Mary) Watches of Bath, Michael (Joanne) Watches of Buffalo, Patricia (Stephen) Trentanelli of Andover, N.J., Jeffrey (Carol) Watches of Pembroke, Mass, Nancy (Dean) Snyder of Hilton, N.Y., Gregory (Toni) Watches of Grand Island, N.Y., Kathleen (Ralph) Gencarelli of Norwalk, Ct. and Amy (Dan) Ackerman of Bel Air, Md.; her 12 grandchildren, Chauncey (Kate) Watches, Jennifer (Pete) Bradstreet, Robert Watches, Alexander Watches, Ann Marie (Dennis) Weaver, Stephen Trentanelli, Nicole Watches, Taylor Snyder, Sarah Snyder, Hailey Watches, Adam Watches and Joelene (Ganish) Ramnarain; her four great-grandchildren, Savannah, Gianna, Kiara and Romeo; her two sisters, Mary Fitch and Donna Marie Wolcott both of Batavia; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her four brothers, John, Donald, David and Michael Wolcott.
Calling hours are from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday (the Ladies of Columbus will conduct a memorial service at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday) and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday. Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to either the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, N.Y. 13790 or to the Pool Fund at the Hornell YMCA, 12 Center St., Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
I remember the best mom and best surrogate mom to all of my friends! Love you and miss you Mom.
It was Awesome being your “only child” of eight.
Patty, I am so sorry for your loss. Stay strong.
To Chauncey, and the Watches family. I’m sadden by the loss of your Wife and Mother.
I am saddened by your loss and wish the family all the best.
I was so sorry to hear about your Mom. She was a wonderful nurse and whenever I saw her, she was so nice and wonderful to talk to. May you feel God’s comfort during this time. With sympathy and prayers.
I remember as a 19 year old new mom with an ill newborn your mother being so kind. Of all the nurses that cared for us I only remember her 39 years later. I too in later years went on to become an RN and remembered when on duty how important it was to be kind to patients as it can make a lasting impression and means alot such as your mother did for me.
To Jeff and the entire Watches family; please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved mother. It has been a long time, but I remember what a welcoming and giving person she was. I have the greatest admiration for her.
Chauncey, our thoughts are with you and your family.
The world has lost a wonderful woman, friend, mother, surrogate mother, volunteer, and too many other things to list. R.I.P. Joan Watches…may your memory always be a blessing. You will be missed. Long distance hugs to the whole Watches family.
Although I never met mrs watches. She did raise a great daughter and fantastic friend in amy. Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Amy, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will remember your mom’s wonderful smile and kind way. She always knew how to handle all of us crazy kids as we trampled through her house on the weekends. She was such a wonderful lady with a kind heart.
To the Watches family — especially Patty & Mike — thinking of you at this difficult time. Your Mom did and aways will embody all the things we love about Hornell.
I did not know Joan personally but do know her son Chauncey as a judge and would like to send my condolences to him and the family for their loss
My condolences to the entire Watches family, I have so many rememberances of Joan. She was my very first supervisor,as I entered the working world. She was just so good to me, as I entered my first job. Also, was great advocate for Cinderella softball. Many memories,of a great lady.
Dear Chauncey II and Family,
I am sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. As I read her obit, I envision an intelligent, strong and caring woman. Her accomplishments, both professional and personal, speak volumes. I cannot imagine raising 8 children while advancing her career during that period in time when women were expected to “stay home”.
She sounds like an exceptional woman, and I hope her strength and your memories will comfort you during this time.
God Bless all of you,
Susie Sweet Amundson
A tremendous void is left, but we can fill it at least partially with the love she had for us all and the lives she touched while she walked with us. Thanks to all who took the time to
Help us celebrate her life and for all your kind words of remembrance and your prayers. Your efforts remind us of her attitude of kindness to all. I will and I hope you will try to follow her great example!