Paella dinner

Pure kindness and warmth.

Joan, Boris and Jenna having a fun dinner at the Tibet House in Golden, CO

I knew Joan through my sister (Betty McMillen Gallagher). We shared numerous Olive Garden meals  with other SDA friends. Joan was one of the nicest people I have ever met. The one thing that really stands out in my mind though is her laughter. It was infectious! It will be missed by friends. Heartfelt condolences to the family.

There’s that sparkle in her eyes I remember, what a great picture! Joan had a special spark of life and you always knew when she was in the room. Her personality was magnetic and she had a great sense of humor. She was so warm and genuinely caring. I will miss her. She has been a part of my family since before I can remember, really. Even though I dropped out of life for a bit, she was always around my family in some manor even as my grandparents aged, she checked in on them. My grandparents met her in the Colorado Concert Chorale. When Joan started the children’s choir at South Church, my grandparents immediately enrolled me at 5 or 6 because I could only sing by ear and they wanted someone to really teach me how to sing. I also rode with her to MHA for 10 years, even after the pool was disbanded! She came with us on our family vacations to Lake Powell too, it was so much fun. Neither she nor my grandma really swam, but they had a blast floating in the lake while the rest of us skied. She and my grandma shared the same name as well - two of the best women I have ever been blessed to know. I can’t wait to see her again! Titus 2:13.

My name is Dan Doyle& I grew up next door to Joan & her family. My brother& I were good friends with Dan& Tim, we even shared a clubhouse between our houses. After moving away I always kept in touch with Joan. I did allot of landscaping& took care of her trees up until a few years ago. I enjoyed how much love she always had every time I was there. She also truly cared with her whole heart about people. In fact Joan called me because she said she woke up felt that there was something wrong or I was hurting, I hadn't talked to her for 6 months& just an hour prior to her calling my dad passed away, & I was in pretty bad shape. That to me was pretty special, I am going to miss her, she was a wonderful person.

I am so sorry. Thoughts and prayers. 

Joan and I were friends for over 43 years. What started out as a carpooling adventure to Mile High Academy with our kids, ended up in a lifelong friendship. We shared September birthdays, careers in long term care, attended seminars on dementia and Parkinson’s, served on the Board of Nursing’s nurse aide advisory committee together, and became great movie buddies. One of our highlights was a trip to NYC to see my dancer son perform and eat our way around The Big Apple. She showed me Carnegie Hall, where she had so proudly performed with one of her singing chorales. When she became ill, we squeezed in as many lunches, cups of chai tea, shopping trips and mani-pedis as we could. She was the consummate caregiver, helping the residents at Marston and giving the staff a run for their money! 😉 She was always the one who prayed beautiful prayers when we were together, and we had such a lovely connection. I will miss her forever. See you in the Kingdom, my dear friend.

Joan and Clark E. VanBuskirk

With Paula Mattison

Doña Juana y los tres mosqueteros