Joan McGowan O'Leary of Madeira, Ohio was born on a family farm outside of Newburgh, New York on October 12, 1946.  She died September 7, 2023.  The cause of death was lung cancer.

She attended Fordham University in New York City, being in the first class to allow women as undergraduates and earned a B.A. degree in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching.  She taught English and Reading at high schools in New York City and at Northern Kentucky University and Cincinnati State.

She married Joe O'Leary in 1972 and they recently celebrated their fifty-first wedding anniversary.  They moved to Cincinnati in 1984.

She is the mother of Beth Detter of Anderson Township, married to Jon Detter, and Joe, Jr. of Chicago, married to Sarah nee Moellenkamp, and the grandmother of Ethan, age 16, Drew, age 13. and Jonah Detter, age 9, and Rowan O'Leary, age 1.

She was a member of the Watercolor Society of Cincinnati, the Madeira Democratic Party and the Marielders of Mariemont.  Her hobbies were painting, especially watercolors, and writing, particularly mysteries, and gardening, mostly flowers.  She loved traveling for pleasure with guided tours her favorite part, whether mansions or coal mines.

Visitation will be at the Gilligan Funeral Home, Kenwood on September 13th, 7-8:30pm.  Funeral service will be held September 14th, 10:30am at St. Saviour Church in Rossmoyne.