Our beloved mother and wife, Joan Beverly Gmiter, at 74, passed away peacefully in the evening of July 15, 2021, surrounded by her immediate family in Georgetown, TX.

Joan was born on August 24, 1946 in Elizabeth, NJ to Stanley ("Stash") and Amelia ("Milie") Malek, and was the oldest of three children (sister Linda and late brother Tom). Joan received her Bachelor's degree from Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, and served the academic community of Montgomery County, MD until 2015. On December 6, 1969, she married Bernard Paul Gmiter and they raised their two sons, Peter Francis and David Bernard, from their Potomac, MD residence.

Joan was renowned for her extraordinary and creative talents which not only complimented her pioneering tutoring approach but were evident in every aspect of her life. Joan's enthusiasm for the performing arts successfully established her in lead roles with Sweet Adelines International, first the Heart of Maryland Chorus, then the Chisholm Trail Chorus of Central Texas. Joan was elected to board positions with each chorus, and tirelessly prepared for group and solo performances.

Joan and Bernie were inseparable from one another over their lifetimes, genuinely supporting each other's passions and goals. Once their sons left home to attend universities, Joan and Bernie enjoyed improving a bay front property on Deal Island of the Chesapeake Bay. After Joan retired from teaching, they left their Potomac and Bay Maryland homes, and relocated to Georgetown, TX, nearby where their sons now reside.

Joan took selfless pride in elevating occasions to the benefit of those around her -- opening gatherings with interactive, ice-breaking games, authoring and reading aloud event-related histories, or perhaps preparing activity memorabilia -- ALL participants received prizes.

Joan's surviving husband and sons have planned a private family memorial to be held in the evening of July 23, 2021, at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, TX. The family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Sweet Adelines International ( https://sweetadelines.com/give ).