Joan McDermott Hudson, 79, passed away at Phoebe Home in Allentown, PA after a sixteen year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Massachusetts on July 2, 1934, Joan celebrated her birthday and 4th of July this past week and died on July 7. Her parent the late Francis H. McDermott and Mary Agnes Sullivan McDermott and late husband, Henry (Bill) William Hudson, III were also born in Boston. Joan was mother to Holly J. Hudson, wife of Richard A. Stauffer, Henry (Bill) William Hudson, IV, husband to Sally Gilliland Hudson, Heather J. Hudson, wife of Timothy Harris and Christopher McDermott Hudson, husband to Janet Bradford. She was also proud grandmother to 6 granddaughters and 6 grandsons and 3 great grandsons. Joan went back to school and was a 1974 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Cedar Crest College. Upon graduation she taught first grade for East Penn School District, at both Lincoln and Wescosville Elementary Schools until June, 1984. She and her late husband moved to Duxbury, MA where she was a substitute teacher and Docent at the Duxbury Massachusetts Art Complex Museum. They returned to Emmaus in December, 1991 and later lived in Milbrook Chase, Macungie, 2000-2005. Joan was an active Emmaus Public Library volunteer beginning in 1964, when it opened in its present location and was a member of the Friends of the Library. She returned to substitute teaching in EPSD and at The Hillside School. Joan enjoyed Bridge, reading, walking and was highly skilled at knitting and quilting. She was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Emmaus. Services: A private family burial is being arranged by Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Sat. Aug. 3, 2013 at 11:00 AM in St. Ann's Catholic Church, 415 S. 6th St., Emmaus. Online condolences may be made to www.schantzfh.com Contributions: Memorial donations may be sent to the Emmaus Public Library, 11 East Main St., Emmaus, PA 18049 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Lehigh Valley Branch, 617 A Main St., Hellertown, PA 18055.