Joan Hornberger

Joan Hornberger (nee Zackey), age 81, a resident of Nashville, TN, formerly of Charlottesville, VA (1970-2008), died on Monday, March 4, 2024. She was born on May 4, 1942 in Abingdon, PA. 

Beloved wife of George M. Hornberger, whom she married in August 1965; loving mother of Rachel Kessinger (Will) of Lake Tahoe, NV, and George Z. Hornberger (Sharon Drumm) of Vienna, VA; adored Grandma of Melanie, Mia, and Naomi Kessinger, and Duke, Ty and Zelda Hornberger; dear sister of George Zackey (Maxine) of Texas and Loretta Heidelberger (Jon) of Utah; fond aunt, great-aunt and friend of many.

Joan grew up in Southampton, PA and Guilford, VT.  She graduated from Drexel University and taught high school home economics for several years. While she raised her daughter and son, she was an avid volunteer in their schools. Once the children were older, she ran the office of Dr. John Shrum in Charlottesville. Joan always helped people. She served her community as an inspired volunteer her whole adult life, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, at nursing homes and with hospice, at LP PENCIL, Second Harvest Food Bank, as an active member of the Vanderbilt Women’s Club and as her and George’s home association president, to name just a few roles. During the pandemic she sewed, donated, and distributed over one thousand masks.  She enjoyed tennis, mah-jongg, the card game 7-Up, and always had a jigsaw puzzle going. Joan was a talented and devoted quilter and seamstress and has left behind beautiful works of art that will continue to bring joy in her absence.  She traveled the world with her husband (Australia, China, and Sri Lanka, among others) and regularly vacationed with her children and their families (Isle of Palms, Alaska, Iceland, Canadian Rockies…). She loved being with her grandkids and grand-dogs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Vanderbilt Women’s Club or Alive Hospice of Nashville in Joan’s name.