Joan Roberta Habbegger (b. October 17, 1944) passed Feb. 1, 2017 with her style intact while still casually pursuing the things she enjoyed: travel, jewelry and design. She lamented the loss of her husband Ray Leard and found solace in solo journeys, with recent trips to Copenhagen and Iceland. Her husband and Paris always held special places in her heart.
Born in Highland, Ill., her parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Habbegger of Highland, Ill.. She attended the Highland Public Schools and Monticello Preparatory School. She enjoyed sneaking out to go dancing and Pepsi. She was graduated from Parsons College and received a Masters from Johns Hopkins.
Following college, Joan taught junior high in the Washington DC public schools and then worked with social services in Maryland. She married Maryland State Trooper Raymond Leard in 1980. They were married 35 years until his death in 2015. They lived most of their lives in Joppa, Md. until moving to Towson, Md. in 2008.
She had a keen sense of fashion and was an avid lover of contemporary jewelry. Joan had a small circle of friends who loved her dearly. She enjoyed traveling particularly when coupled with museum art and fashion exhibits – she traveled to Paris to view "Souliers" a shoe exhibit, and to Italy for the Dior exhibit. She volunteered for years with an international children's relief agency, which included spending weeks in Romania with orphaned children.
She died suddenly in her home this past winter. There was a memorial amid family in February in Joppa, Md. She is survived by her three sisters, six nieces and nephews, and two step-children. Joan was a steady and easy friend with great taste and a sense of adventure. She bequeathed a cool, contemporary style to those around her. She will forever hold a special place in the hearts of her family and friends.