Joan was one of three daughters born to Daniel and Marjorie Dougherty and raised in Brooklyn New York. After marrying her first husband, Richard Dougherty, this Brooklyn College graduate moved to Sayville to raise daughter Barbara (Llobell-Great River NY) and sons Richard (Malverne NY), James (Bayport, NY) and John (Dix Hills, NY). Widowed in 1975, she married once again to Daniel Pechin in 1985, soon retiring to Redington Beach Florida. In 2001 she returned to New York and to her home in Great River to be near family. During this time, she welcomed grandchildren Crystal, Paul (PJ), Brooke, Trevor, Erin, Kelsie and Matthew and great-grandchildren Jesse, Grace, Elijah and Levi. In her later years she was active in the AMVETS East Islip post as well as Emmanuel Episcopal and St Mark's Churches. In 2018 friend and family gathered to celebrate her 90th birthday. She is remembered affectionately by all those whose lives she was blessed to touch.