Joan Harrison Edwards

Joan Harrison Edwards, aged 88, passed away at Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellnes Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 28, 2017.

Joan was born in Ireland in 1929 where her father, Frank Harrison, later to become a distinguished ethnomusicologist at the universities of Oxford and Amsterdam, was then organist at the local church in Kilkenny. The Harrison family moved often as Dr Harrison’s academic career took him to many universities, including Queens in Kingston, Ontario; Washington University in St Louis; and Oxford.

While in St Louis, Joan graduated from Barnes School of Nursing. During this time she met her Peter Edwards and they were married after an extended engagement. In 1964, the Edwards family moved to Gambier Ohio, where Peter worked at Kenyon College and Joan continued her nursing career at Mercy Hospital in Mount Vernon. When Peter died at an early age, Joan become very active in the women’s rights movement, helping to establish the Knox County chapter of the National Organisation of Women (NOW).

Throughout her working life, Joan was a dedicated caring nurse. Later in her career in Columbus, she supervised at home care, and was a strong advocate for families. Her final years were spent close to her son Jonathan and his family in Pittsburgh.

Joan is survived by her sister, Shelagh (William) Webb of London, England; son, Jonathan (Beth Anne) Edwards, and grandchildren, Bateman and Alexandra Edwards, all of Mt. Lebanon, PA; daughter-in-law Beth Edwards of Racine, WI, and grandchildren Jessica Edwards (Erik) Maccoux, and great grandson Carsyn Christopher, and William Edwards, all of Milwaukee, WI. She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Gillespie Edwards and her son, Christopher Harrison Edwards.

Friends and family are invited to join a celebration of her life at the family’s house on Friday, October 13th.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cremation and Funeral Care, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317, (724) 260-5546.

Please view and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.