Joan Marie Robins

PHILIPSBURG: Joan Marie Robins, of RD Philipsburg, passed away at Heritage Ridge at Windy Hill on March 26, 2025, at the age of 72.

Born Joan Marie Rusnak on December 4, 1952, in Philipsburg, she was the daughter of Joseph Lewis and June Elizabeth (Stonebraker) Rusnak. Joan was a 1970 graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School. She was of the Catholic faith.

She married Richard Lee Robins of Philipsburg, who preceded her in death. Together, they had a daughter, Jennifer Leigh Robins.

“Joanie,” as her family and friends called her, loved Philipsburg, and she exemplified the virtues of small-town life. She was well-known as kind, soft spoken, and exceedingly generous. Joanie loved to bake, decorate, paint, and plant flowers and shrubs, and she was the first to volunteer to help her friends and family do the same. She made a nutroll that was out-of-this-world.

More than anything, Joanie loved her family and was unconditionally dedicated to them. 

After high school, Joanie attended beautician school and owned a beauty shop on N. 2nd Street in Philipsburg.  Later, she drove school bus for Long Motor Buses. Joanie is probably best remembered for operating Marrara’s Philipsburg Dry Cleaners, which she did until her time of retirement.

Joanie is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Robins of Philipsburg; two brothers, Gerald (Denise) Rusnak of Westerville, Ohio and Richard (Darin) Rusnak of State College; a sister, Karen (Samuel) Sleek of Philipsburg; and four nephews: Eric Rusnak of Rush Twp., Craig Rusnak and Keith Rusnak both of Westerville, Ohio and Aaron Long of Pittsburgh. She is also survived by six great nieces and nephews (Corinne, Jacob, Samuel, Wesley, Benjamin and Margaret Rusnak).

Joanie was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, (Richard), a sister-in-law, (Barbara Robins Belko) and a brother-in-law, (Edward T. “Ted” Long).  

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Burial will be at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, RD Philipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joanie’s memory to Moshannon Valley Emergency Medical Services, P.O. Box 289, Philipsburg, Pa  16866. www.mvems23.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.beezerheathfh.com