09/08/2026
Joanne Vaughn
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Joanne Vaughn, 61, of Saratoga Springs, New York, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Joanne was born in Queens, NY and grew up in Smithtown, NY. She moved up to Saratoga Springs, NY after getting married in 1989 and has lived most of her adult life there. Joanne was predeceased by her parents, Ernest Kolano and Eileen Kolano (Damm). She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Ray Vaughn, three children, Ryan Vaughn, Casey Vaughn (Kelly), and Megan Durling (Avi); as well as her three siblings, Maureen Boles (Kevin), Kerry Virga (John), and Thomas Kolano (Carol). Joanne was the proud aunt of four nieces, four nephews, two great nieces, and one great nephew.
Joanne graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1987, where she studied English and met her future husband, Ray. She worked for the Saratoga Springs City School District for 20 years. For 16 of those years, she worked as the principal’s secretary for Division Street Elementary School. In recent years, Joanne worked as a payroll clerk for the Saratoga school district. Joanne was an incredibly dedicated, hardworking, friendly, caring, organized, creative, and diligent worker. She cared tremendously about the people she worked with and always wanted to make their lives better and easier by helping them. Joanne had a positive impact on every person’s life she interacted with, in work and everyday life.
Joanne was a creative, helpful, and giving person. She enjoyed crafting with her sisters and daughter. She would see ideas online and at craft fairs and immediately go to the craft store to start creating. Particularly around the holidays, Joanne enjoyed creating new decorations with her daughter and creating new games for the family to play all together. Every December, she would turn her home into a Christmas wonderland, taking great care to make the holiday magical for everyone: planning parties, buying games and activities to play, and meticulously wrapping presents for every family member. She was also involved with Festival of Trees for Catholic Charities for many years, decorating and donating trees along with her daughter.
Her creativity extended to fashion as well. Joanne never missed an opportunity to try out a new outfit or a new pair of shoes – a trait she shared with her daughter. Her and her children’s Halloween costumes over the years were elaborate and beloved, and the holidays at her house were never complete without matching pajamas.
Joanne loved helping her family with school projects, both as students and as teachers. Many of her children, nieces, and nephews got through school by having her proof-read their essays. An avid reader, Joanne was a lover of books and would buy and read her own copy of a book if someone else needed to read it for school – all to help out with the related homework assignments.
Joanne valued her family and friends greatly and had a contagious smile and laugh. She cherished her friendships with her roommates from college; still constantly getting together and staying involved in each other’s lives through family weddings, dinners, celebrations, and trivia. Joanne was extremely proud of her family and the love they have shown to each other.
The beach was Joanne’s happy place, and she went every chance she got. While Saratoga Springs is lacking oceans and beaches, she sought out every opportunity to visit her sisters on Long Island to dip her toes in the sand. She also loved traveling to Maine, Cape Cod, Maryland, and Florida over the years with her husband to spend more time near the ocean. Joanne would spend her summer days in Saratoga sitting out by her pool and soaking up the sun. She would shock every teacher in the beginning of the school year with how tan she could get while still working in the summers.
Joanne’s children wanted to share that their mother was the best mom in the world. She was the most supportive mother and always had endless, unconditional love for her children. They know she will continue to cheer them on and love them from Heaven.
Relatives and friends may call from 4 – 8pm Friday, September 11, at the Willliam J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, September 12 at St. Clement’s Church, 231 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Burial will be private.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
