Joan Y. Hamel, age 79, entered into rest on, July 14, 2016 at Park Villa Nursing Home in Clyde. She was born on May 16, 1937 Vermillion, South Dakota to Alphonse Octave and Delma Georgianna (Ribordy) Girard.

She moved to Kansas at the age of 4. She attended Berger Country School. She was a 1955 graduate of Clyde High School.  Joan received her Nursing Certificate from Marymount College. She worked as an RN at Gelvin-Haughey Clinic, St. Joseph Hospital and various Nursing Homes. She was a veteran in the long term care field, serving more than 25 years as Director of Nursing, Consultant and Educator. Joan was a pioneer in Kansas Health Care Association and the founder of the Nurse Advisory Council at KHCA.

She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde.

She married Ivan Hamel on October 19, 1957 at Clyde, Kansas. He preceded her in death on November 15, 2006.

Joan is survived by her 5 daughters, Janet Pierce (Bill), Clyde, KS.; Susan LeDuc (Jim), Ames, KS.; Brenda Turner-Brown, Olathe, KS.; Barbara George (Mike), Clyde, KS.; DeAnn Haist (Tom) Houston, TX.; 2 brothers, James Girard (Charlotte), Manhattan, KS.; Kenneth Girard, Ogden, KS.; Sister-in- law, Theresa Travis, Houston, TX.; 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ivan, parents, a brother Alphonse Girard, Jr.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be held Saturday, 10:30 a.m., July 16, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde with Rev. Steven Heina officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clyde.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 15, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Chaput Mortuary, Clyde. A Vigil/Rosary service will be 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 15, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde. Family will greet friends after the rosary.

Memorial Contributions may be given to ALS Foundation c/o Chaput Mortuary, Clyde.