Joan Catherine O'Leary

Joan C. O’Leary, 86, of Highland Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026. Surrounded by love, Joan’s soul has been lifted, and she now rests at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, where she watches over those she held dear with boundless love.

Born in Manhattan, New York, Joan was a proud graduate of Marymount College in Tarrytown. She devoted 30 years of her life to teaching in the South Bronx public schools, where she inspired generations of students through her compassion, dedication, and unwavering belief in their potential. Joan spent much of her life in Eastchester, New York, where she raised her family as a proud, strong, and devoted single mother. She was a constant source of love, guidance, and strength, instilling in her children the values of hard work, integrity, and compassion that continue to guide them today.She lived a full and vibrant life, finding joy in travel, theater and musicals, bridge, and reading. She especially cherished her travels with her beloved partner, John Dragich, and treasured every moment spent with her family and close friends. Joan was known for her sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor, bringing warmth, laughter, and light to all who knew her. She is survived by her devoted partner, John Dragich, and his daughter, Joanna; her loving children, Stephen, Michael, and Carolyn O’Leary; her cherished daughter-in-law, Liliana Rondon O’Leary and Laura O’Leary, her adored grandchildren, Justin, Sara, Stephen, Thomas, Mary, and Meaghan; and her sister-in-law, Anne Lantry.Joan was predeceased by her beloved father, Thomas F. Lantry Sr., a man she deeply adored and who was profoundly proud of her—a lasting inspiration throughout her life and the lives of her children. She was also predeceased by her mother, Claire Nearing Lantry, and her brother, Thomas F. Lantry Jr.A viewing will be held on Monday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Gary Panoch Funeral Home, 6140 Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida. A Funeral Mass will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Ascension Church, 7950 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton.In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Her love lives on in all of us, and in the countless lives she touched—never to be forgotten, always to be remembered.

Professional arrangements are entrusted to: Gary Panoch Funeral Home, 6140 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33487

561-997-8580 www.gpanochfunerals.com

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