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Joan W. McDonell Thousand Oaks, CA QCWA # 26870 Chapter 120 |
Ventura County Star
March 5 to March 8, 2013
Joan Wass McDonell (1926 - 2013)
Obituary
Joan Wass McDonell passed away peacefully at home on March 2, 2013, surrounded by family. She had been diagnosed just weeks prior with leukemia. Joan was born July 5, 1926, in Brookline, Mass., to Dr. Alfred and Mrs. Dorothy Haskell Wass. She attended Tufts University in Medford and graduated in 1947, with a Bachelors degree in Chemistry. After graduation she married Duncan McDonell, and shortly thereafter moved to Southern California where they made their homes in Westchester, Glendora and Thousand Oaks. Joan and Duncan had been married for 39 years before Duncan passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease in 1987. Joan had been Duncan's loving caregiver during the last months of his life.
Joan had been very active at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church since 1964, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and being involved with Faith Circle and many other church groups and activities. The love and support extended to her by her many cherished Emmanuel friends shows how she had loved each of them. Joan had also been an active ham radio operator with call sign WA6QKC, and had friends all over the world due to her years enjoying this hobby with Duncan.
Joan is survived by her three children, Cindy Mayes (Rick) of Pollock Pines, Calif.; Jeffrey McDonell (Gretchen) of Manasses, Va., and Nancy Meifert (Don) of Moorpark, Calif.; grandchildren, Drew Meifert (Melissa) of Monument, Colo., Lisa Brown (Charlie) of Moorpark, Calif., Dirk and Scott McDonell of Manasses, Va.; and great-grandchildren, Abigail, Jack, Sarah, CJ and Reese. She dearly loved each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was very involved in each of their lives. She will be deeply missed by all that had the privilege to call her Mom, Jo-mama, Grammy, GG and dear friend.
A memorial service celebrating Joan's life will be held Friday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (Camino Manzanas and Lynn Road) in Thousand Oaks, with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations in Joan's name to the music ministry at Emmanuel Church.