Joan Hoover Fennell Orton Fina

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Joan Hoover Fennell Orton Fina died peacefully at her home on Thursday, November 3, 2016 with her loving family at her side. A longtime resident of Saratoga Springs, Joan was born in Burlington, VT in 1933 and attended the University of Vermont before moving to Saratoga Springs in 1952 when she married Thomas A. Orton. Tom died in 1977. Joan was employed at Skidmore College from 1965 until 1987 as Coordinator of College Events and served under the presidencies of Joseph C. Palamountain, Jr. and David H. Porter. She married Fil L. Fina, Jr. in Saratoga Springs in 1986. She was a member of the Saratoga Springs Garden Club, the Soroptomists, President of the Junior Civic League, and served on the board of directors of the Hawley Foundation and Saratoga Hospital’s Flower and Fruit Mission. Joan was a talented pianist, an avid bridge player, and she enjoyed painting watercolor landscapes. She was a voracious reader and loved going back to visit her home state of Vermont. Joan was also a talented golfer and once had a hole-in-one at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club. She was admired for her style, her wit, and her wonderful sense of humor. Joan felt tremendous gratitude and love for her husband and family, and she was very proud of all of her children. She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly thirty years, Fil L. Fina, Jr. of Saratoga Springs, as well as her sister Elizabeth Kmen of Glenville, and two brothers, K. Paul Fennell, Jr. of Bend, OR, and Luther Weston Fennell of St. Simons Island, GA. Joan had six children: Julie Orton of NYC, Kim Callahan of The Villages, FL, Karen Coppernoll of The Villages, FL, Thomas Orton, Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, Susan Orton of Poughkeepsie, and Kate Charbonneau of Satellite Beach, FL as well as Fil’s six children. In addition, Joan and Fil are blessed with fifteen grandchildren, several sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Joan is predeceased by her father K. Paul Fennell, Sr., her mother Margaret Hoover Fennell, and her sister Anne Fennell. Relatives and friends gathered in her name on Tuesday, November 8 at the William J. Burke and Sons/Bussing and Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway in Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Clements Church on Wednesday, November 9. Interment will be at the family’s convenience. Donations in Joan’s memory may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.