Joann Therese Colligan

JoAnn Colligan, beloved wife, sister, mother and grandmother, died in Indian Land, S.C., on Sunday, Nov. 6, at age 80.

Born May 28, 1942, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Florence and Edward Schanning, JoAnn attended St. Brendan’s Diocesan High School and St. Joseph’s College for Women in Brooklyn, graduating in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry.

She married Jack, a newly minted Air Force officer, on Sept. 12, 1964, and they began nearly 30 years of service to this country, he in uniform and she tending to the homefront. For her three children, she was transportation coordinator, nutritionist, teacher and tutor, disciplinarian, supporter, cheerleader and champion. She was a Girl Scout cookie mom, Cub Scouts Den Mother, school volunteer, avid bowler, arts and craft enthusiast and, for a time, president of the Hanscom Air Force Base (Mass.) Officers Wives Club.

JoAnn was as comfortable in front of a sewing machine or helping at the school counselor's office as she was seated next to statesmen at a military dress dinner. She loved puzzles and games, and impressed her children's friends by correctly answering entire rounds of the game show Jeopardy.

JoAnn was sharp, funny, knowledgeable and generous.
Later in life, she enjoyed cruises and travel (even journeying to Ireland after insisting she would never visit Europe), playing mahjong with friends and doting on her grandchild, Maggie, whom she loved so much.

Her survivors include retired USAF Col. Jack Colligan, her husband of 58 years, of Indian Land; daughter Patricia Colligan (and husband Brian Mater) of Austin, Texas; son Brian Colligan (and wife Alison Cozy) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; daughter Katherine Eccard (and husband Steven Eccard) of High Point, North Carolina; granddaughter Maggie Eccard of High Point; sister Pat McClintock of Indian Land; and extended family and friends who treasure the memories she leaves behind.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation in JoAnn’s memory to the American Heart Association or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital .