Joan Lenhardt

Joan Lenhardt passed peacefully on Sunday September 21, 2025 at the age of 88. She was born on February 23, 1937 to Arthur and Helen (Wittman) Torpey. Joan was the youngest of four children with her older sisters being Mary and Pat and brother Bill.

Joan was devoted to her family. She was a caregiver, an outstanding hostess, a wonderful baker and cook, an avid outdoorsperson, and an all-around great lady. She was born in Scottsville and grew up on Browns Avenue until the age of 12. The family then moved to the Wittman family farm on South Road as her father’s MS made it difficult to navigate the two-story home on Browns Avenue. She attended school in Scottsville and graduated in 1954 as the class salutatorian.

After graduation, Joan attended Rochester Business Institute for two semesters. She secured a job at Kodak as a secretary shortly after graduation. She met several life-long friends at Kodak. One of them introduced her to Frank in 1963. They were married in 1965 and settled in to Clifton. As Frank had just invested his life savings buying in to his father’s business, it was Joan’s savvy savings that allowed them to buy their “starter” house. They remained in that starter house for 59 years.

As they started a family in 1969 with the arrival of Joe and three years later the arrival of Mary, Joan settled in to her role as the care giver. Not only did she take care of the household and family, she hosted many of the get togethers of the extended family. Birthdays, holidays, and summer picnics were hosted at the Lenhardt’s with Joan at the helm. She had such a talent for making everything look effortless. Never rushed or flustered, everything ready on time and cooked to perfection. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.

Once Joe and Mary moved out of the house, Joan’s mother, Helen, moved in and Joan took care of her until her passing in 1994. Then some years later, she took care of Frank as his various ailments progressed. She spent her life taking care of family and friends. She was very active at St. Mary’s church, spending her time on the flower committee and the annual garage sale. Always the care giver.

Joan will be missed by all that knew her. She had so many life-long friends because she just kept adding them, never letting them go. During her final days at Patrick Place comfort care home, we had to restrict visitors because there were so many people that wanted to see her. That is a sure sign of a life well lived.

Joan is survived by her son, Joe (Cherry), her daughter, Mary (Al Pratt), grandsons, Ian and Nick Lenhardt, sister, Pat, nephew, Ed, brother Bill (Donna), and several nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to call on Friday, September 26th, from 4-7pm at J.H. Cameron Funeral Home, 26 Rochester St. Scottsville. Her Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 27th at 10am at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 99 Main St., Scottsville. Interment Holy Angels Cemetery, Scottsville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Patrick Place, 2006 Scottsville-Chili Road, Scottsville, NY 14546.