McLean, VA – After years of roaming the globe, Joanne Gay Liebig, 76, passed away in her sleep at her home in McLean, VA on February 19, 2026.

Joanne was born on April 15, 1949, the second daughter of Philip Henry Liebig and Gay Ruckaberle Liebig. Her family of five made Granville, NY their hometown.

The premature death of her mother left an indelible mark on Joanne’s life and was the impetus for a career in nursing that spanned five decades. During high school, Joanne spent her summers enrolled in the Candy Striper program at the then Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, VT. Those experiences led her to study nursing at the Fletcher unit of the Burlington University Nursing Program. During her career, she worked in hospitals and clinics around the world, including Boston, San Francisco, Louisiana, Virginia, San Salvador and Ankara, Turkey.

That spirit of benevolence extended to her personal life. She often baked and delivered goods for neighbors and the volunteer fire department in McLean and maintained strong ties with family and friends in her hometown, sending timely gifts and heartfelt letters to loved ones.

Throughout her life, Joanne held a life-long passion for travel and photography, documenting the people, flora and fauna she encountered along the way. An intrepid traveler, Joanne visited five continents: she rode elephants in Sri Lanka, photographed wildebeests in Africa, visited vibrant markets in Vietnam, and took striking portraits of the people she met along the way.

Joanne was predeceased by her parents.

She is survived by her sister, Lois Anne Jasek (Terry Havens); her nephews, M. Scott Schaffenoth (Colleen), John Philip Chalmers (Sarah); her niece, Gabrielle Rodriguez (Francisco); her brother, Mark C. Liebig (Connie); her nephew, Derek Liebig (Claudi) and her niece, Lindsey Liebig. She is also survived by six grand nephews and six grand nieces and one great grand-nephew and one grand-niece.

Visitation will be on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 1 – 1:45 pm at the McClellan-Gariepy Funeral Home, 19 East Broadway, Salem, NY. A celebration of Joanne’s life will begin following the visitation with Rev. Chris Dungan officiating.

A reception will be held at Matelli’s Taverna, 219 Main St., Salem, NY following the services.

To express your sympathy or share a memory of Joanne, please visit www.gariepyfuneralhomes.com