Joan Knight

Joan A. Knight passed away Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 2, 1931, in New York City to Alexander and Jane McKeever Considine, Joan loved the city and was proud to be a New Yorker. She married George Hoffman on Sept. 7, 1952, and embarked on a career as a military spouse. They had three children, James, Debra and Steven.

She moved the family across the country several times before settling in Forked River, New Jersey, when George retired after a 20-year career in the U.S. Army. Joan and George separated, and she then married Kenneth Knight on Nov. 5, 1979, and moved to Bricktown, New Jersey, where she lived for 35 years.

Joan lovingly embraced the title of "MomMom," bestowed upon her by her grandchildren, and was a strong presence in their lives. Although she retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1998, she never stopped being active in her community. She was a life-long Republican and regularly served as a poll worker.

Joan loved her life on the Jersey Shore: taking long walks on the boardwalk, collecting sea glass, supporting Ocean Nature -- a local environmental group -- and developing lifelong friendships.

A devoted Christian, she loved Jesus and was an avid participant in numerous Bible studies. She was well known for adding "and God loves you" to the end of the happy birthday song every time it was sung in her presence, much to the chagrin of her children and grandchildren, and every Christmas was sure to take pictures of the family holding a paper plate indicating the year. She always had a joyful presence, a wonderful sense of humor, and an unrelenting interest in having fun. She reluctantly left the Jersey Shore in 2013 to move to Cape Girardeau to be closer to her son, Steven.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Jane and Joe Latkovich; son, Steven Hoffman; daughter-in-law, Margaret Waterman; and grandchildren, Michelle Pike, Jeremy Pike, Laura Hoffman, Jessica Hoffman and Russell Hoffman.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth; her daughter, Debra Hoffman Pike; and son, James Hoffman.

A visitation for Joan will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Burial will take place in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at www.curealz.org; a nature group of your choice or your favorite charity.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tributes tab of Joan's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.