Joan Walker (Townley) Bird

Joan Walker Bird (Townley) passed away peacefully at home with family and friends at her side on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 after an extended and enlightening experience with cancer. Joan was born in Fairfield, CT on September 24, 1953 to Alice A. and William W Heim (deceased).

Joan graduated from Andrew Warde High School and then Dickinson College with a BA in Spanish and Economics. She earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. She was employed by the Bank of New York Mellon (formerly Mellon Bank) for 35 years. Joan was a manager for private banking for the Mellon Private Wealth Management. Joan was always proud of her company and of the many wonderful co-workers and clients with whom she worked.

Joan was a member of St. Simon & Jude Catholic Church and an active and grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous for the past 27 years. Her love and thanks go out to her fellow members who enriched her life.

Joan was an avid photographer and enjoyed drawing, painting, gardening, swimming, vacationing with her family in Aruba and the company of her fabulous cats Redford, Newman, and Sundance.

Joan is survived by her terrific husband David C Townley (Bridgeville) and her two awesome daughters Julia and Laura Bird, her Mother Alice Heim, her brother Larry Heim and his wife Audrey Wright, her sister Liz Heim. Joan is also survived by her sponsors and life coaches John and Patricia Klemen. She is also survived by members of her mother's family, including her Aunt Byrnece and Uncle Joe Urgo and their family. Joan is survived brothers and sisters in law Ron and Mary Ellen Beck, Terry and Anne Bird, Kelly and Connie Bird, Janis and Rick Allen, Joan and John Snyder, Patricia and Ken Mcpherson, John and Candy Bird, Katie and Barry Brupbacher, Judy Malzahn, Ian Johanessen, Barbara Townley and Don Woodworth, Vince and Tina Townley, Joan and Mary Lou Townley, Ed Townley, Bob Townley, Mark Townley, and Victor Rivera. Joan is survived by many many wonderful nieces and nephews and their children from her extended families. Joan was preceded in death by her late husband Richard E Bird (Mt. Lebanon), her father William W Heim, her sister Janet Heim, her father and mother in-laws Thomas A and Rita Bird, LaVerne (Buck) and Rita Townley, and her brother and sister-in-laws Thomas Bird, Lois Johanessen, Rebecca Townley and Sal Garcia.