Joan Esther (Marks) Lesswing

Born Nov. 29, 1928, in Buffalo, N.Y., the only child of Gordon H. and Esther (Fronzak) Marks.

She was a 1946 graduate of Kensington High School. Joan earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Buffalo State College Class of 1950 and a recipient of the Buffalo State Golden Key for her athletic participation. In the 1950s Joan taught second grade at Eggert Road Elementary School (School 13) in the Amherst Central School District. She married Allen L. Lesswing, M.D., June 20, 1953, who passed away Dec. 15, 2015.

She enjoyed being with family, dancing, gardening, sailing, traveling with her husband and was an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres.

Joan served on several local boards including Women’s Medical Auxiliary, Buffalo Cripple Children’s Guild, Twentieth Century Club Board, volunteered for the Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital Women’s Board and for a several years owned Travel Agents International, a travel agency franchise in Amherst.

Loving wife of the late Allen L. Lesswing, M.D.; beloved mother of Alison J. (David J.) Dengler of Fredonia, N.Y., Mark A. (Susannah) Lesswing of St. Charles, Ill., and Grant P. (Nancy Ann Hammer) Lesswing of Amherst, N.Y.; loving grandmother of Erin Dengler of Buffalo, N.Y., and Allen (Rachael) Dengler of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Bryan (Catie) Lesswing of New York City, Kate Lesswing of Crystal Lake, Ill., Will Lesswing of Chicago, Ill., Reid Lesswing of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Garrett Lesswing of Amherst, N.Y.

A note of gratitude from Joan’s family is extended to the staff of Canterbury Woods for their care and support.

Friends may call 5-7 p.m., Friday at the DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 8630 Transit Road Williamsville, where funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

Flowers gratefully declined. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, https://donate3.cancer.org/ or 1-800-227-2345