Joanne H. Foulk, died September 2, 2018

Joanne Hirschwald Foulk was born August 14, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, the beloved daughter of Rudolph and Rebecca (Reinish) Hirschwald. She graduated from Cheltenham High School at age 16 and went on to obtain her bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1946. She married Theodore Foulk in 1947, and they settled in Philadelphia. Joanne loved children and made them the center of her personal and professional life. She taught for a time at Oak Lane Country Day School, and then took time to raise four children of her own. When the youngest entered first grade, she returned to work as a kindergarten teacher at Germantown Friends School, retiring in 1972.

Joanne and Ted moved to South Royalton, VT in 1973, into a house that they designed and the whole family helped build. In Vermont, Joanne started a new career as Foster Care Coordinator for Upper Valley Youth Services and later for Casey Family Services. She was always actively engaged in helping others.

After Ted's death in 1990, Joanne moved to Hanover, NH. There she met Denis Kelemen and married him in January of 1994. She said that she was very lucky to have been in love twice, with two wonderful men.

Joanne became an active member in the Upper Valley: a board member of Women's Fund of New Hampshire (now known as the New Hampshire Women's Foundation), a board member of the Friends of the Hood Museum, a supporter of Northern Stage and Opera North, and a donor to many local charities and Democratic campaigns. She was an avid reader, a lover of classical music, and a follower of current events and politics. Her avocations included gardening, travel, collecting folk art, needlepointing, knitting, cooking and, in her younger years, playing tennis and going to the beach. Most of all, she was an amazing people person who, throughout her life, connected with almost everyone she met in a way that made her many friends. She loved hosting her children, grandchildren, and friends (hers and theirs) for frequent visits. Joanne was a firm believer in judging people by their character and actions. She was a lifelong champion of civil rights and social justice, as much on the level of personal interactions as that of political activism.

Joanne was predeceased by two older brothers, Donald Hirschwald (who died in infancy) and Barry Hirschwald; and by her husband, Ted Foulk, and her husband, Denis Kelemen. She is survived by son T. Griffith Foulk (Sarah Horton) of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; three daughters, Rebecca Foulk (Tavian Mayer) of South Royalton, Margaretta Foulk of Edgecomb, ME, and Abigail Foulk (Richard Wasserman) of Charlotte, VT; stepson, Peter Kelemen (Rachel Cox) of Nyack, NY; eleven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial gathering, where friends will have the opportunity to share reminiscences about Joanne, will be held October 14, 2018 in the Gathering room at Kendal at Hanover, 80 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH  Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction will assist with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Hampshire Women's Foundation, 18 Low Ave, Suite 205, Concord, NH 03301.