Joan Denney Gonter, 71, of Arnold, Maryland, died at her home on Monday, July 20, 2015, after a brief illness.

Joan was born in Takoma Park, Maryland in 1944, and grew up in Moorefield, West Virginia. She raised her family in Bowie, Maryland and Annapolis, Maryland and later moved to Arnold, Maryland. Joan was an avid gardener, a doting grandmother and enjoyed traveling around the world with her partner, Charles Rechner III, also of Arnold, Maryland.

She is predeceased by her father, William H. Denney, Sr., her brother, William H. Denney, Jr., and her son, Brian William Gonter.

Joan is survived by her three sons and their families: Michael Gonter and Luisa Constanza of Paris, France and their son Mateo, his son Kurt, of Pasadena, California, and his daughter Caroline of Annapolis; Kevin and Maureen Gonter of Middleton, Wisconsin and their daughters, Maeve and Erin; and Matthew and Summer Gonter of Baltimore, Maryland; her mother, Mary Frances Denney, her sisters, Karen Lennox of Augusta, GA, Suzanne Mezzadri of San Diego, CA and her brother, Thomas C. Denney, Sr., of Moorefield, WV, and many nieces and nephews.

Her sons will hold a private interment of her ashes at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling, WV, on Wednesday, August 5th. Joan will be laid to rest with her infant son, Brian.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Of America, Attn: Spinal Cord Injury Research, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr #1A-118, San Diego, CA 92161 or the Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211. Condolences for the family may be offered online at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.