With profound sadness and deep love, we announce the passing of Joan M. Howling (nee Steinmetz), of Collegeville, PA who left this world peacefully on July 31, 2025 surrounded by her family after a courageous six-year battle with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She was 69 years old.

Joan's life was defined not by her illness, but by her strength, grace, and the immense love she poured into everyone fortunate enough to know her. Diagnosed with a formidable disease, she met it head-on with resilience, humor, and an unwavering will to live life on her own terms. In those six years, Joan taught all of us how to live fully, love deeply, and never surrender to despair.

Born to the late George and Joan Steinmetz, Joan carried with her the values of kindness, compassion, and a deep respect for all living things. A true lover of nature and animals, she found solace in the rustling of trees, the chirping of birds, and the quiet companionship of her beloved cats. Her happiest days were spent in the great outdoors—camping, hiking the trails of national and state parks, or sipping a strong cup of coffee at sunrise outside her RV, parked somewhere beautiful in the vast American landscape. Her love for adventure also took her to Walt Disney World more times than anyone can count, and across the Atlantic, where she marveled at the charm and culture of France, Italy, and Scotland.

Joan treasured time at her cherished cabin in the Poconos, a place where memories were made with family. She loved word puzzles, crocheting, planning detailed itineraries for vacations and trips, and finding joy in the small, simple moments. And oh, how we'll miss her laugh—a one-of-a kind, infectious joy that could light up a room.

She is survived by her loving husband of 13 years, Robert Howling; her beloved daughters Kathryn Teats and Laura Talone (Corey); her beautiful granddaughter, Leah; her four grandsons Jacob, Timothy, Reilly, and Jack; her two brothers, George Steinmetz and Richard Steinmetz; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation in Joan's honor on August 8, 2025, from 11am to noon at Kirk & Nice Funeral Home, 80 Stenton Avenue, Plymouth Meeting, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joan's name can be made to Unite for HER, a nonprofit organization that supports breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients by providing integrative therapies, services, education, resources, and support at no personal cost - https://uniteforher.org/donate/