Joan Hourican

Joan Hourican, 71, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2023 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.  Joan was predeceased by her father, Dr. Alfred Perrine, her mother, Eileen Perrine (nee Cummings) and sister Barbara Perrine. Joan is survived by her husband of 49 years, James F. Hourican, her son, James O. Hourican, her daughter-in-law, Lauren Hourican,  two grandchildren, Max and Lilly, sisters Susan Hyde, Jean Perrine, Eileen Flanagan (late Ed), Jill Mitchell (Larry) and Pam Polling (Jeff), and many nephews and nieces 

A native New Yorker, Joan was born on July 4, 1952 in Queens, New York to the sounds of fireworks. In her later years, she was always fond of saying that her father told her the fireworks were for her birthday. Joan spent her time, while growing up, between her neighborhood in Queens and the family summer home in Asharoken on the north shore of Long Island. She was introduced to James in 1972, and they were married at St. Sebastians in Woodside in September 1974, eventually settling in Lynbrook, NY until 2010 when she and James moved to Saint James.

She began her career working on Wall Street, eventually leaving and becoming a homemaker after the birth of her first and only child James. She returned to the workforce a few years later becoming the office and daytime manager for a number of Long Island restaurants, including B.K. Sweeney’s in Lynbrook and Mim’s Restaurant in Syosset. She retired in 2013.

An avid sports fan, Joan closely followed the New York Giants, New York Yankees and New York Rangers - often spending time during games texting with James to lament missed opportunities and celebrate victories. Already an amazing cook and baker in her own right, often seeing feeding people as a way to comfort and support them, Joan became even better after retiring whipping up spectacular holiday meals, and eventually passing the responsibility and love of cooking to James. 

Joan was an exceedingly kind woman, always putting others ahead of herself. Most importantly, however, Joan was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Joan was affectionately known as “Nan”, and was always greeted with screaming and hugs at every visit. Taking her responsibility as Nan seriously, she never missed an opportunity to spoil and play with her grandkids with non-stop games of hide-n-seek, “fast” and Sorry. Gone too soon, Joan will be sorely missed by all who knew her and were lucky enough to count her among her family and friends.

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