Joan Elste Noll, 81, of Shohola, PA, passed away peacefully at home on October 5, 2021. Joan was born in Elizabeth, NJ to Charles and Madeline Elste on February 18, 1940. The family later resided in Westfield, NJ.

In 1962, she received her Bachelor of Arts in illustration from the Philadelphia College of Art, beginning a lifelong career in fine arts. Her paintings were exhibited at the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey, the Painters and Sculptors Society in Jersey City, the Newark Museum and in private collections at Monmouth College and the Atlantic Refining Company of Philadelphia.

Wanting to express herself in another medium, one she could combine with her illustrative training, in 1974 she undertook a three-year apprenticeship in glass at the Len DiNardo Studios, and a one-year apprenticeship in glass painting at the Marchese and Hamersama Studios under Tom DiGiacomo. Her glass pieces have been exhibited at the Nabisco Gallery, the Glass Masters Guild Street of Glass; the Park Avenue Armory, Central Park South, NY; the Prudential Headquarters Gallery in New Jersey and published in both New Jersey Monthly and Art Glass Quarterly magazines.

Deciding to travel out West with her best friend, Helen Daly, she became fascinated by small-town rodeos compiling sketches and photos of the American rodeo cowboy. Later she would incorporate these into her stained-glass work by combining both painting and glass.

Upon returning from her travels, she met her future husband, Jerry Noll. Married in 1980, they eventually moved to their home in Shohola  in 1990.

After a long career in illustration, painting, and stained glass, she pursued her long-time hobby of writing stories for children, eventually having her book “True Blue” published, of which she was very proud.

Her hobbies included swimming at the Jersey Shore, fishing, biplane aerobatics and raising animals. Joan gave unconditional love to both people and animals. She always gave and never asked for anything in return. She will always be remembered to all who knew her—a truly unique person.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry Noll of Shohola, PA, and cousin Joanne (Bruce) Fritz of Mesa, AZ.

Services and burial were private.

Arrangements were made by the Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 W. Harford St., Milford, PA (www.stroyanfuneralhome.com).