Clara Joan Hruz

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Clara "Joan" Hruz peacefully passed away on March 18, 2024 in Belair, MD at the age of 87, a month to the day before her 88th birthday. Joan was born on April 18, 1936 in Canton, MD to the late Joseph and Clara Lewis.

She and her siblings enjoyed a loving home filled with the many traditions of their Irish, Welsh, Polish and Catholic Faith backgrounds. Joan attended Saint Brigid High School in Baltimore City and proceeded on to Clara Barton Vocational School.

Bob and Joan married on June 30, 1956 at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Dundalk. Shortly after the birth of their first child, they moved to Harford County, Maryland where their family grew and flourished. Joan's dedication and work with the Catholic Church, especially at Edgewood Arsenal, was not only her vocation but also her joy. Throughout the years she and her family became friends with many of the clergy and religious; especially Father James Dolan.

"Joanie," as many friends and family referred to her, loved cookouts and gatherings, 50's music and dancing. Whether eating steamed crabs, making crab soup for the family, or hosting her annual Christmas Eve "open house," with her homemade eggnog, she always strived to gather the people that meant the most to her. She retired from the Harford County Board of Education and spent her retirement watching her grandchildren grow.

Joan was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law Geraldine and Roger "Buzz" Gutowski, and Joseph "Sonny" Lewis, her brother. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Patrick Hruz and brother and sister-in-law Michael and Polly Lewis.

Joan is also survived by her dear husband Robert D. Hruz, Sr., daughter Linda Steinmiller and her husband Bruce, son Robert D. Hruz, Jr. and his wife Cynthia (Erica Kinsey and Danielle Tarry), son Raymond Hruz and his wife Sherry. A loving grandmother to seven grandchildren Benjamin Steinmiller and his wife Brittany, Micah Steinmiller and his wife Christina, Samantha Steinmiller and her fiancée Christopher, Jamie Fonio and her husband Kevin, Travis Hruz, Ryan Hruz, and Alexandra Chilcote, Her littlest loves, the great-grandchildren, MJ, Annie, Levi, and Ellie know her as MeMe. Grammie and MeMe will be remembered for her love, laughter, Easter Egg hunts, summers at Ocean City, love of Tweety Bird and the color yellow, and coloring in coloring books! We will miss you!

Viewings will be at Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk, 7110 Sollers Point Rd, Dundalk, MD 21222, on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 2:00 - 4:00 and 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

The Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024 at Sacred Heart of Mary, 6736 Youngstown Avenue, Dundalk, MD 21222

Gravesite burial to follow.