On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, Joan Kunkel Mertz, of Northumberland, passed away peacefully.

She was born Aug. 31, 1935, the third of four children to Lera and Joel Kunkel of Sunbury. She shared a special connection with her older sister Julia, whom she considered her best friend. They did everything together, from singing and dancing to raising children.

After graduating from Sunbury High School in 1953, Joan proudly worked as a bookkeeper at Hackett’s Hardware Store. There, she caught the eye of a local farmer, Boyd Mertz, and after a brief courtship, they were married in Zion Lutheran Church on Jan. 15, 1961. Together, they shared 60 years of marriage before Boyd’s passing in 2021.

Together, the two of them co-owned and operated Mertz Greenhouses and Market. Joan’s domain was the produce and flower market, where she ran the day-to-day logistics, bookkeeping, and sales for many years.

However, her light shined brightest when she was caring for others, and her proudest accomplishments were her children, Lisa and Boyd K. Mertz. They remember Joan as a mother who always put her family first, a woman who was unfailingly generous and fiercely protective.

Those who knew her knew of her love, affection, and pride for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She adored being a Nana, and happily attended countless dance recitals, baseball games, and school musicals.

Joan traveled the world with family and friends. She loved trips to Disney World and Colonial Williamsburg, she backpacked through Europe with her daughter Lisa, and she went on numerous vacations to the beach with her husband, Boyd.

She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for decades. She volunteered at the local hospital as well as the Shikellamy School District, where she assisted in her daughter’s second-grade classroom for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd; as well as her siblings.

Joan was the last living Kunkel of her generation. She is survived by her daughter, son, and daughter-in-law, Lisa Mertz of Northumberland, and Boyd and Melanie Mertz of New Hope; four grandchildren and one grandson-in-law, Janessa Mitterling, Daniella Mertz Guiton and Richard Guiton, Cameron Mertz, and Braden Mertz; four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and one dog, Jackson.

There will be a funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sunbury, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Zion Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are by the Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home, 210 King St., Northumberland.