Joan Marie Burgess
Joan Marie (Brooks) Burgess passed away at her home in Ocala, Florida on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, after a long illness, with her devoted husband and daughter by her side. Daughter of Clarence and Leona (LaBlanc) Brooks, Joan was born Sept. 6,1934 on Payeville Road in Saranac Lake, in the house that her father built.
Joan was a graduate of Saranac Lake High School, class of 1952, and was the proud recipient of the Sportsmanship Award at graduation. She especially loved playing softball and bowling with her friends.
In 1952, she married her childhood sweetheart, Lawrence Mace, and together they raised their four daughters, whom she loved and cherished deeply. She went on to marry James Burgess, the love of her life, on Dec. 24, 1988.
Joan had a zest for life and wasn’t afraid to bend the rules in the name of good fun. She always loved making those around her laugh. She was never afraid to don a silly hat or tell a goofy joke for the joy of others. You could catch her dressed in costume for Winter Carnival or see her piloting the River Queen paddleboat on Lake Flower. She had many passions including camping and foraging for mushrooms.
Joan, always on the hunt for the next great treasure, never met a garage sale she didn’t love. Not to be left out, she would host her own sale to make room for her newest treasures. She loved painting crafts and statues to pass the time, then gifting them to friends and family. Joan was always there when others needed her. Big or small, she would do whatever she could to help. She especially loved to cook and to welcome others into her home, showing her kindness by nourishing their hearts as well as their stomachs.
As a high school senior, she already knew her guiding principle. In her senior yearbook, her quote was, “A merry heart lives long.” Joan’s heart did live merry and long. She recently celebrated her 91st birthday surrounded by her husband, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Leo Brooks and Francis Brooks. She is survived by her husband James; her sister Connie (Brooks) Willette; daughters Zina Booth, Lori Mace (Ellie Keller), Joanne Zawisza and Cora Knihnicki (Rich); grandchildren Darienne Parent, Travis Travis, Josh Zawisza (Jessica Bach), Aldea Zawisza, Niki and Tyler Dream Knihnicki; great-grandchildren Aiden and Ashton Zawisza; Alyssa Ryan; Zack and Tyler Parent; Laila Darago; Jackson Zawisza; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at a future date.