Joan O. Coleman

Joan O. Coleman, 91, from Sun Lakes, Arizona passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona. Born on March 12, 1934, in New York City, she was the daughter of William Vail Brill and Eliza Laura Morash.

On April 6, 1957, Joan married her beloved husband, Wallace “Wally” Coleman, in the Madison Presbyterian Church in New York—an intimate chapel where her parents had also exchanged vows. Together, they built a life filled with love and shared adventures.

Professionally, Joan worked at Wiley Publishing Company, where she was instrumental in planning events and coordinating travel arrangements for numerous conferences. Following Wally’s retirement, she chose to retire early, embarking on a new chapter by relocating to Arizona in 1997 with close friends from their New York apartment building. She maintained enduring friendships with their children until her passing.

A devoted member of the Chandler Presbyterian Church, Joan found joy in participating in the weekly Bible study with the women’s group, where she formed lasting bonds and deepened her faith.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, her older brother William Morash Brill, who died in infancy, and her cherished husband, Wally.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 230 N Val Vista Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85234. A Mexican food luncheon will follow the service. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be available for virtual viewing. Please contact Marvin Johnson at 480-215-6151 to obtain the viewing link.

Joan will be laid to rest beside her husband at a graveside service in New York.