Joan Ciango Sheehan

Joan Ciango Sheehan

It is with great sadness and much love that the family of Joan C. Sheehan announces her peaceful passing on Saturday, March 20, 2021 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Joan resided in both Beltsville, MD and Ocean City, MD. 

Beloved wife of the late James Sheehan.  Devoted mother of Kathleen, Susan, Mary Tarbrake (Kevin) and Tom (Laura).  Adored grandmother of Kelsey Wright, Erin Jarboe (Chris), Tim Wright and James Sheehan.  Proud great grandmother of six.  Loving sister of Mary "Miggy" Margaret Burns and Celeste Kell (Richard). Sister in law of Joan Vorrasi and Jane Riggott (Tim).  Loved by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.  Preceded in death by her parents Peter and Mary (Rubino) Ciango, her granddaughter Marie Sheehan, and brothers in law Terrence Burns and James Vorrasi.  

Joan grew up in Washington, DC surrounded by her large, close-knit, extended Italian family. She graduated with a nursing degree from Catholic University in 1962. In 1963 she married Jim, the love of her life and they settled in Beltsville, MD. After their children were born, she volunteered and worked as a substitute teacher in their elementary school (Chestnut Hills), was active in the PTA and was the family cheerleader at every school and sporting event. She continued to volunteer and substitute teach at Beltsville Academy when it was formed by merging Chestnut Hills and Beltsville Elementary schools and she received the Volunteer of the Year award from Prince Georges County. She was close to all the staff there and continued to volunteer at the school until 2020 when it closed due to COVID-19. She and Jim enjoyed traveling, first by camping when their family was young, and then spending time with extended family in Ocean Pines, MD when her parents owned a home there. They traveled around the country when Jim took business trips for his work at the World Bank. They especially enjoyed visiting the Shenandoah Valley, several other national parks and Disney World. In 1995 Jim and Joan purchased a vacation home in Ocean City, MD where they made many new and lasting friendships. An avid sports fan, she loved going to the Washington Senators baseball games and Washington Redskins games with her father, She later became a season ticket holder for the Redskins. She also cheered on and attended games for the Maryland Terrapins basketball team, the Washington Capitals and the Boston Red Sox.    As an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Joan worked on many committees and events including chairing the annual Christmas Bazaar on several occasions. In 2007 she started a food pantry at the church and tirelessly devoted her time to shopping for it and running it until her illness prevented that. She also organized the Thanksgiving food baskets and the Christmas Giving Tree presents and food drives. She was very close to her church family and thoroughly enjoyed her charity work.  Joan’s greatest joy was being with her family and making them feel special whether hosting them at holidays or the beach, or simply talking and listening to them and being part of their lives. Her loss will be felt deeply by so many. 

Visitation will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church 11007 Montgomery Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 11am to 12:15pm.  A mass of Christian burial will begin at 12:30pm. COVID-19 restrictions require a mask or face covering and social distancing.  Private entombment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD for family only. 

As it is the Lenten season, in lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be considered for the St. Joseph's Food Pantry (https://www.stjosephbeltsville.org/) or Shriners Hospital  (https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc) which both meant so much to her. Contributions to either charity or notes of sympathy to any of the Sheehan family may be sent c/o Kathleen Sheehan, P.O. Box 1543 Beltsville, MD 20704 to be distributed accordingly.

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