Joan Claire Aschenbrand (née Freund) 79, born in New York, a Bronx girl, passed away on August 30, 2025, after a four decade battle against melanoma. She was the heart, the strength, and the conscience of our family. Joan was born on July 17, 1946 to Ernest and Eleanor Freund. Family and friends were at her bedside throughout her recent illness in support of her and her struggle fighting the obscenity and ravages of cancer.

Joan attended City College of New York. She married Richard Aschenbrand on July 2, 1967. Soon after they moved to Ohio, where she worked as a hematology research assistant, and later as a patient care coordinator for the department of plastic surgery at The Ohio State University Hospital.

She is survived by her husband, daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Jay Stewart, son Aaron, daughter-in-law Tara, and grandchildren Colter, Lily, and Gia Aschenbrand.

All of us will miss her joyous laugh, her large, deep brown eyes, her sharp, playful sense of humor, her lovely smile, her intelligence, her diminutive presence, her tenderness. She was the perfect partner, an always caring mother, the truest friend, a joy to be around. Joan was proud of her family, greatly valued her friends and cherished her home. Joan had many personal and professional accomplishments, but delighted most in the accomplishments of others. Joan was kind, sweet, tender, and so generous.

Joan’s joys were simple - a family get-together, an evening with friends, a good novel, a mahjong game, travel, a walk on the beach - all done with style, grace, and a smile. She was young-at-heart.

Joan loved and was loved.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) in memory of Joan.

To donate by check, please note "In Memory of Joan Claire Aschenbrand" in the memo line of checks and send to the address below:

Melanoma Research Foundation

P.O. Box 719329

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19171-9329