Joan M. Savage

Aunt Joan passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2025. She was 96. Joan was born on August 17, 1929. She was a 1947 graduate of Johnstown High School.

 

She had a 41year career at the Contel phone company.

 

Joan was married to Dan Frasier for 49 years until his passing in 1998. Dan ran a car lot in Gloversville for many years. Given that, Joan drove some great cars. For a time, it was an orange Chevy Camaro with two black stripes down the middle. Following that was the Joan signature car. A powder blue Lincoln Continental.

 

In time Joan ran into an old high School friend, Donald “Doc” Savage. They hit it off and were married in 2002. Doc passed away in 2021. Doc felt it was a very special day when he and Joan spent some quality time with his very large family. Doc was a top notch third baseman in his day. Doc enjoyed throwing the ball around and talking baseball with Joan’s nephews.

 

After Doc passed in 2021, his eldest daughter Kathy, her husband John along with his son Peter, maintained a kind, loving relationship with Joan over the years. Joan would light up talking about going to lunch with Kathy or even a simple phone call from either of them would make her smile.

 

Joan spent many years as a winter resident of Dania, Florida, near Ft. Lauderdale. Up until a few years ago she would go down there for about 5 months until the weather got better in Fulton County.

 

Joan has a niece Deb Lair and her husband (Wayne) that live two doors down. They were selfless, caring and giving of their time. Plans for the day were quickly changed when Joan needed something. From Doctor appointments to groceries to medications and much more, Deb and Wayne were there for her.

 

The light of her life were Jackie’s four boys. Joan attended every football, baseball, wrestling match, they ever played in. She was there for wins and losses, rain or shine. She was there for graduations and weddings. Joan took in the future wives with open arms. It was always a big deal to take a girlfriend to meet Joan. It meant it was getting serious.

 

Joan enjoyed an adult beverage with her boys. Nothing put a big smile on her face more than when she and the boys got together and told war stories from the past. Usually a cold one or two was involved.

 

The boys grew up on North Chase Street in Johnstown, Joan was famous for giving the boys some very loud Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. Of course, she could just leave that night and it became Jackie’s problem after that. Drums, keyboards, bongos, rock ‘em sock ‘em robots were handed out that night over the years.

 

Joan was very generous during college days. Just when you thought you couldn’t get any more flat broke, a card arrived in the mail from Joan. The weekend outlook got a lot better.

 

Her nieces and nephews included, Deb Lair (Wayne) of Johnstown, Randall (Kathi) Jarabek of Greenville, SC. Jeff (Clair) Jarabek of San Antonio TX. Jay (Patti) Jarabek of Johnstown.

 

Joan was predeceased by her sister and best friend Jackie in March of 2017. They were nearly inseparable. Both were remarried later in their lives, and the husbands were warned that you weren’t marrying just one of the Karl sisters. They are a package deal. You can’t take one to lunch or dinner without calling the other one. In addition to her sister, Rick Jarabek passed away in 2024.

 

There is a next generation of grandnieces and grandnephews scattered in San Antonio, Philadelphia and in Fulton County. Joan always enjoyed getting pictures and face timing some of the next group coming up.

 

Visitation will be at Betz, Rossi, Bellinger and Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont Street Gloversville from 9AM to 11AM on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 with a service to take place at 11AM. Burial will follow in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the National Glaucoma Research or Bright Focus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Clarksburg, MD 20871.

 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Home.