Joan Frances Kray (nee Szczepaniak) beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday November 6, 2024. She was born on September 22, 1932, in Gary, Indiana to the late Frank and Sophie Szczepaniak. On June 9,1951, she married Edward Kray at St. Hedwig Church in Gary. Together they raised three daughters. She was a dedicated member of St. Bridget Catholic Church and member of St. Anne's Confraternity. Joan was a broker at Ginter Realty in Hobart.  She, along with her husband Ed, were long time members of the Chopin Choir.

Joan was a supreme homemaker and hostess. You could not leave the kitchen table without having one more helping!   She loved her family and planned countless celebrations and holidays through the years.  If she hadn't been a realtor, she could have easily been a travel agent.  At the age of 18, she planned their Havana honeymoon and she would go on to plan countless Hawaiian holidays for her family. Joan truly loved God's magnificent tropical paradise!  Her grandchildren knew her as "Nanny" and she was always eager to play a game of late-night Scrabble or show off her yo-yo skills.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan (Richard) Ehrenfeld, Sharon (Larry) Streit, Kristin (Doug) Githens; grandchildren, Tim (Holly) Streit and their children Alyssa and Logan, Kara Hiatt and her children Drew and Grace, Lauren (Victor Nespar) Ehrenfeld, Richard Ehrenfeld, John (Jenn McPherson) Ehrenfeld, Andrew (Kristen) Githens and their son, Rhodes, Haley Githens; sisters, Betty (Joel) Helding, and Barbara Kolczak.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 73 years, Edward Kray; brother and sister-in-law, Norbert and Gerri Stevens; brother-in-law, Joseph "Butch" Kolczak; grandson-in-law, Chris Hiatt.

Visitation for Joan will be held Sunday November 10, 2024, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm with a 2 pm prayer service at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart Chapel, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana 46342.  We invite you to wear something tropical and bright during Joan's visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Monday November 11, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Bridget Catholic Church with prayers starting at the funeral home at 9:30 am. She will be laid to rest at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville. For more information, please call (219) 942-2109. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.  In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to VNA Hospice NWI at www.vnanwi.org.