Joan Marie Solis

Joan Marie Solis (née Carlin), 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children Lisa, Greg, and Nicole, on Saturday, August 15, in Ponte Vedra, Florida, her home for the previous 4 years.

Born to Bernard and Jane Carlin on May 27, 1934, Joan spent a happy childhood on 62nd St. in Southwest Philadelphia. She took horseback riding lessons nearby, played in fields with her beloved older brother, Bernard J. Carlin, and frequently ventured downtown on shopping trips (a lifelong hobby) with her mother.

The family’s regular Sunday drives, on her father’s sole day off from his job as a police officer, likely inspired her lifelong love of cars. As a young woman, she eagerly anticipated buying her first car, her heart set on sporty MG-A. Her practical parents convinced her to choose a Rambler station wagon, so that she could drive herself and friends to and from their summer house at the Jersey Shore. Joan drove her new Rambler home, the old grey box a lifelong regret. After cycling through many different-hued station wagons, she finally had the freedom to buy a new dream car: a purple woody PT Cruiser that may have been one of the loves of her life.

After graduating from West Catholic High School for Girls, Joan worked for the Atlantic Refining Company, thoroughly enjoying her lunches out at Stouffer’s, easy access to shopping, and travel. One manager, recognizing her ability, encouraged her to seek a promotion to a role that had never before been held by a woman. After much convincing, she earned the promotion, although her Irish modesty would never let her admit she broke a glass ceiling.

An avid skier, she met fellow Philadelphian Frank Robert Solis in February 1963 on a ski trip. As Joan told the story, they met when seated at the same table at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. As Frank told it, he sought her out after noticing her graceful deer-skin-booted calf – always the fashionista – bouncing as she talked with friends on the train to Aspen. After the trip, a fellow ski club member said, “Well, we lost another one. Frank Solis met someone.” Frank and Joan were married September 26, 1964 in Philadelphia. They honeymooned in Europe, skiing the Swiss Alps.

No matter what stage of life she was in, Joan made the best of it. With the births of her children Christopher, Lisa, and Gregory in quick succession (then after a well-earned respite, Nicole), she had to quickly pivot from urban working woman to suburban homemaker. She taught herself to cook, forged lifelong friendships with neighbors, and even found time to engage in hobbies such as sewing, ceramics, and her perennial favorite, shopping. She devoured mysteries from the library, reading the final page first, which she insisted did not diminish her enjoyment of the story. When her children were older, she returned to work as a bookkeeper for Brown and Connery Law Firm, where she forged many decades-long friendships. After retiring, Joan and Frank traveled often, including an annual trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with friends from their skiing days.

She was happiest when surrounded by family – perhaps even more so when it was at the Shore. When their children were grown, Joan and her brother Bernard’s families began an annual tradition of renting houses down the street from each other for a week in Sea Isle City, NJ. Although Bernard was always first to the beach, Joan was often a quick second, enjoying the long days of sun, sand, endless conversation, and laughing. Joan loved to laugh.

Joan is survived by her four children: Christopher Solis, Lisa Solis, Greg Solis (Amy), and Nicole Solis Snider (Dave); seven grandchildren: Rex Jolles, Frank Solis, Emma Solis, Caitlyn Bohannon, Matthew Arnett, Veronica Snider, and Duke Snider; her great grandchild, Beckett Bohannon; as well as her beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Frank R. Solis on April 17, 2013.

The viewing will be from 9:00 am - 10:15 am on Monday, August 24th at McGuinness Funeral Home in Woodbury, 34 Hunter Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096, with a Mass to follow at 11:00 am at Holy Angels Parish at St. Patrick’s Church at 86 Cooper St. in Woodbury. Interment will follow at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her granddaughter Emma's school, North Florida School of Special Education.

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