Saratoga Springs – Frances Joan Brucker of Outlook Avenue passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at her residence. She was 84.

Born on June 5, 1923 in Saratoga Springs, NY, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Agnes (Ide) Connery and was a lifelong resident. A graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, she had worked as a receptionist for Dr. Lewis Taub office of Optometry for many years.

Best known as “Nana,” Joan retired in 1993 to babysit for her grandchildren. Her love for her children and grandchildren gave everyone the strength and will to succeed. Her love of holidays, especially Christmas, brought about her passion for baking fabulously detailed desserts. Joan’s annual fruitcake was prepared with great enthusiasm and shared with her adoring friends and family. Her Christmas nutcracker collection became impressive over the years. She enjoyed looking at art, sewing and discussing politics. Baseball and football games were watched every weekend and she was a great Tiger Woods fan. Joan and her brother John always had a good time at the clubhouse at Saratoga Race Course.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, Paul Brucker, who died Dec. 9, 1991; one daughter, Toni Hudson, who died Nov. 13, 1994 and two sisters, Josie LeDuc, who died Aug. 1, 1975 and Mrs. May Gass, who died Feb. 10, 2008.

Survivors include her children, Shaun Dziedzic and her husband, Metin Feridun of Thalwil, Switzerland, Dr. Stan Dziedzic and his wife Gina of Port St. Lucie, FL and Joan Farnum and her husband, Chris of Ballston Spa; her grandchildren, Ayla Feridun-Dziedzic, Michael Dziedzic, Allison and Brittanie Farnum, Katie, Joe and Mallory Gannon and Jackie Hess and her husband, Don; one great-grandson, Matthew Hess; one brother, John Connery of Saratoga Springs and her cousin, Marie Bush Dellaquila.

Relatives and friends gathered on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes in Saratoga Springs.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated this morning, April 18, 2008 at 9 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway, by the Rev. Neil Draves-Arpaia. Burial will follow in the family plot in St. Peter’s Cemetery on West Avenue in Saratoga.

Memorials may be made in her name to the Rubin Dialysis Center, 59 C Myrtle St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, whose doctors, nurses and aides lovingly cared for her in the past years of her life.