T. Joan McNamara, 94, of Valatie, New York, passed away on 3 April 2026 at her home in Valatie, NY. Joan was known to her family as JoJo and to many of her friends as Mackie. She was born on July 3, 1931 and was a life-long resident of Columbia County.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, Francis T. and Thelma (Van Deusen) McNamara, her sister Catherine Patricia and brother-in-law George William Burnett, nephews William J. and George Edward Burnett, and her lifelong partner-in-crime Jane Fischer. She is survived by nieces and nephews Joan (John) Luckhurst of Vestal, Judith (John) Haley of St. Augustine, FL, Michael (Cathy) Burnett of Rancho Murieta, CA, Patrick Burnett of Huntsville, AL, Andrew Burnett of Albany, NY, Daniel (Kristin) Burnett of Falls Church, VA, Mary (Harold) Bean of Owego, NY, John Christopher Burnett (Scott Shurtleff) of Ghent, Lee (James) Wood of Barton, NY, Margaret Burnett (Taki Aspradakis) of Sitia, Greece, cousin Jeanne Hopfenspirger formerly of North Chatham, and many great, and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins.

At the age of 17, as a fresh-faced graduate of Martin H. Glynn High School, she began her nursing training at the Columbia Memorial Hospital School of Nursing with a placement at Fordham Hospital in the Bronx. As a qualified nurse she worked for some years for Dr. Rogati's private practice in Valatie, then briefly as a school nurse at Ichabod Crane Schools. She spent more than twenty years of the last stage of her career as a nurse for Albany University, the State University of New York. In retirement, Joan created a pet sitting business, "Critter Catering".

Joan was a life-long active member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, was a member of the Church choir for many years, served on a variety of committees and greatly enjoyed volunteering with the ELVES. She was a prolific knitter with her own tag "From Jojo's Needles." Additionally, she greatly enjoyed gardening, travel and warm fellowship. She and her ever present sense of humor will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson, NY, 12534 or the ELVES, in care of St. John the Baptist Church, 1025 Kinderhook St, Valatie, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Valatie, NY, at 11am on Saturday April 18, 2026 with Reverend Steve Matthews and Reverend Donald L. Rutherford officiating. Family will receive friends in the Church immediately preceding the Mass, starting at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place following the mass at St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Valatie, NY. Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.