Joan Mary Terranova

Joan Mary Terranova, of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, passed peacefully on October 14, 2026, at the age of 90 with her daughters by her side.

Joan was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 55 years, John Terranova, and her brother Robert Heist. She is survived by her five daughters, Deborah Kemp (David), Suzanne Haimoto (Rinsei), Nancy Terranova, Cynthia Terranova, and Beth Ann Collier. She was the proud grandmother of Winston, Emily, Lawson, Jared, Jake, and Joan as well as ten great-grandchildren. Joan is also survived by her sister Dorothy Palage and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Joan was the eldest child of John and Mary (née Miko) Heist. She graduated from Bartram High School in 1954. A friend arranged a date for Joan with a young man named John. Romance blossomed and they married in 1958. They welcomed their first child eleven months later, marking the start of Joan’s greatest accomplishment, motherhood. With the impending arrival of their fifth child, the family moved from Philadelphia to what was then the sleepy little town of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. They remained there until 1979 when John’s service in the U.S. Army moved them to El Paso, Texas and later to St. Peters, Missouri. Eventually life returned them to Chadds Ford.

With John’s passing, Joan moved to the Maris Grove Independent Living community with her rescued cat Tiger, who was frequently found curled up in her lap. Cats always had a special place in her heart. In her new home, her social butterfly blossomed. While she had a close circle of friends that she routinely dined with, Joan befriended everyone she met. Joan logged many miles on her daily walks throughout the campus. She enjoyed playing bingo, making crafts, and working on puzzles, but her favorite activity was the butterfly release on the longest day of the year in support of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 11:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:30 pm in the Maris Grove Chapel. There will be a luncheon at the Cardinal Clubhouse following the service. Maris Grove is located at 200 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Please enter through the security gate and you will be directed to the chapel. Interment will be at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in a private service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Joan would be appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/donate, the Brandywine Valley SPCA, www.bvspca.org, or your local animal shelter.