On the evening of Sunday November 12th, 2023, Joan “Grammy” Christman passed away peacefully. Joan was being visited and comforted by family members and friends at Bishops Glen, The Woodmark. Daytona Beach, FL.
Joan was born in Flushing, NY; the third daughter of 5 children. She was 94 years old. As a young girl, Joan lived in Queens with her parents Helen and Joseph, and siblings Rosie, Jean, Eileen, and Joseph. She would often reminisce about socializing in NYC with her sisters as a young woman. In her late teens she worked at Macy’s Harold Square. At that time, EVERY employee was involved with the Macy Day Thanksgiving parade, as was she. What a memory!
Shortly after, she met the love of her life Gilbert “Gibbie” J. Christman,Sr. They moved to Rye, NY for a short while before settling in Fairfield, CT in Lake Hills, to raise their 4 children. There they formed lifelong friendships. She and her family made wonderful memories of BBQs, life on the lake, camping, clamming, fishing, and boating. Grammy had a great sense of style. She and Gibbie were also recognized as fantastic dancers. Later she worked at The Yield House, a New England Colonial retailer. There she dressed windows and designed the retail floor showroom. She was always happy to help customers with their own home decor needs as well.
In 1978, with most children grown, they moved to Ormond Beach. There, she, Gibbie, and their youngest daughter Lynn made neighborhood friends. The weekly card games, gardening, swimming, cooking, holidays, time at the beach, and many visits from friends and family kept her busy.
What she loved most was her 4 children, in laws, grandchildren, recent great grandchild, and of course all their beloved dogs. The Matriarch of the family, became to be known sweetly by ALL, as Grammy.
Joan will be sadly missed and is survived by her daughter, Susann Basta and her children, Bill Hennessey, Daniel Basta, and Becky Basta, her son Gilbert J. Christman Jr, and his wife Liz, son Eugene Christman and his wife Ellen and their three children, Andrew, Matthew, and Emma Osborne, her husband Matt, and her first great granddaughter Clara Francis Osborne, youngest daughter Lynn “Dolly” Rossmeyer, her husband Will Rossmeyer, and their two sons, Anthony and Gannon Rossmeyer.
All are welcome to join us in a final goodbye to Joan “The Grammy,” Christman. The family will receive friends on Tuesday December 12, 2023 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at Lohman Funeral Home – Ormond Beach, where Joan’s celebration of life will begin at 2:00 PM. A reception to follow in the Lohman Funeral Home’s Casements Reception Room.
