Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Joan “Joanie” Koster, 88, of Bowie, MD and previously of New York died on July 4, 2025 in Severna Park. Born on December 7, 1936 in New York, NY to the late Anne and John Sabeno, Joan graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Elmont, NY before entering the workforce, where she worked for an insurance company in NYC. After raising her four children she shared her talents as a nursery school teaching assistant. All the kids loved “Miss Joan!”. Later she became an executive secretary for Digital Equipment Corp.

Joan was a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family, especially her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an amazing cook, and loved flowers. Joan and her husband Al had a lake house located in Lake Gaston, NC for many years. Joan was always excited to have her kids and grandkids come to visit. Al was the captain of the pontoon boat, providing hours of fun on the water for the kids of all ages! Joan was an unstoppable hostess who would joyfully plan meals, happy hours, and fun-time for the family. As it turns out Joan became proficient in making “dough balls” for her grandchildren to catch catfish in the cove. She stopped short at cleaning fish-but would happily cook them for the most junior fisherman! Joan was warm, genuine, and generous with her time. She had a gift of making people feel welcome and made everyone feel comfortable and important. Joan was wise and kind and if asked, she would share her insight to anyone in need of gentle advice. 

In addition to her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, Al Koster, and her brother, John Sabeno. She is survived by her children, Craig Koster (Shirley)of Waldorf, MD, Adrienne Batten (Paul)on Winchester, VA, Diana Clise(Jeff) of Queenstown, MD, and Joanne Burton(Eddie) of Millersville, MD; her brother, Michael Sabeno of Holbrook, NY; her grandchildren, Andrew and Erik Burrows, Kyle and Jake Clise, Colin, Kayla, and Kristen Burton, Nicholas Koster, Kendall Higgins, Dayna Sutherland, and Jessica Lusby; and seven great-grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Joan’s life on Monday, July 7 from 4 to 7 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where her funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 8 at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Davidsonville, MD. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

Joan Koster

Joan Koster

Send Flowers