How vivid the memory is of fun-loving Joann cheering the UW football team on at the Rose Bown over thirty years ago while she put the finishing touches on Tara's beautiful wedding gown.  What a lively woman and devoted mother she was all at the same time!

   The following year Eric, Tara, Joann, and Alison spent Christmas with us at our home in New Hampshire.  it was a week of great fun and laughter, playing in the snow, lots of exploration, and of course, visits to every quilting shop in the area.

   Then, many years later, when we decided to return to the West, Joann graciously welcomed us to stay with her until we found a house in La Conner.  You can imagine the fun we had for nearly three weeks camped out in her home, laughing,  gardening, learning about the area. She introduced me to her Conway School colleagues for substituting.  What a full package from such a generous woman.

    Eric and Tara have brought our two families together and it has given us the great joy of knowing Joann, a friendship we will treasure forever.

Joann,  We were blessed to be your friends.  There are no words to share how big this was in all of our lives but are so very grateful that you have been in each of our lives as a Pinhead and in so many other ways.  We miss you but are excited for your new journey.  Lots and lots of love to you and your family.

Jan (and Jim) and Pinheads and Homegroup :) 

"Hi honey!" is what she said every time I came to visit. I miss hearing "Hi honey". I always knocked before I went in to the house but usually let myself in so she didn't have to get up. I always announced myself "Hello lady! You better be dressed. I don't want to see you naked!". And we would laugh. 

She was a tough lady. She never complained even on the days that the pain was bad or she was just tired. Some days I would help with housework, and she would pitch in even if she was hurting. She just wanted to try. If I was too assertive, she would tell me that I was being bossy so I learned not to do too much for her and only what she wanted me to do. Some days we would just sit and talk. But most days, we played with the fabric. We sorted and matched, and made piles. She would give me advice and direction on quilt making and I soaked up all her knowledge.

 She decided to participate in a neighborhood garage sale in July. We cleaned out many tubs and closets. I wasn't sure if a garage sale was a good idea; she was so tired. But she was determined to do it. She wanted to donate the money to her favorite local charities. With the help of several of her friends, we got it done! She sat in a chair for most of the day and so many of her neighbors came by to visit. As I watched her talking, I realized that this was the reason why we had the garage sale. Joann sat and talked privately with a neighbor who's husband had terminal cancer; and later the husband came by. And they sat and talked quietly for a long time. Even in the last few weeks of her life, she was giving and caring for others. 

We shared Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, took a drive on Mothers Day and ate hamburgers on the fourth of July. She was our bonus mom and she came into our lives when we needed her. 

She had told me that she was a cryptographer in the military (this came about because we were folding quilt bindings and she said that was how she rolled the cryptography tape) and of being stationed in Germany during the Cold War. And we started expanding on that- by the end of our enhanced version of her military service, she was actually an American spy that saved us all during the Cuban missile crisis. Without hesitation, at this point, she told me that I was not allowed to speak at her funeral. And we laughed!

One of the last visits we had, she was looking at old pictures. In an album that was filled with pictures from her time in the military, an old clipping from a newspaper fell out. It didn't have a picture, just words. We were all quiet as she read this clipping. She seemed to be reading every word and took her time. Finally she told us that it was a story about an old boyfriend who she had dated for a few months during her basic training. His name was  Johnny Orsino and that he later played baseball in the Major Leagues.  Tara, Eric, Mike and I just sat there; huh? Did she just say she dated someone who played in the Major Leagues? Mike did a quick search and showed her a picture of him. "That's him. He's a hottie!" And we all laughed!

I loved her laugh.

Marj