Joan Marie Miller

Joan was born on December 5, 1931 in Kaneville, Illinois to James Alvin Finkel and Blanche Viola Stover Finkel.

Joan was walked home by the angels in the early morning of January 24, 2020. Joan was surrounded in her final days by those she loved and by those who loved her very much.

Joan started her scholastic endeavors in a one room, redbrick school house in Kaneville, Illinois. She graduated from West Aurora High School in 1949. After high school she worked for The Borden Ice Cream Company, The National Cash Register Company (NCR) and retired after 20 years from The State of Colorado.

Joan was born with a spirit for adventure. She loved to travel and explore accompanied by friends and family. Joan also loved to shop. She was famous for her ability get a deal and always came home from the cosmetic counter loaded up with free samples of lotions and potions. Going out to lunch and dinner was another passion. Joan was known to reach out and catch the handsome waiter unawares and gift him with a quick kiss. Joan loved to dance, and often to the chagrin of her daughters, she would admit that she went alone to the Stampede to do a little boot scootin'. Genealogy became a passion for Joan and we have been gifted with a detailed knowledge of our ancestors through her efforts. Joan made friends easily and touched the lives of all she met during her adventures.

 

Family though was the lodestone in Joan's life. She lived for family gatherings, especially Christmas Eve. Joan and her two daughters, became the 3 Amigo's as they bonded together to survive the trials and tribulations brought on by the divorce from their father. She adored her grandchildren and was always whisking them away on some adventure, hosting frequent sleep overs and regularly imparting her wisdom to them.

Joan is survived by her daughters Mary Edmondson (Michael), Patty Williams (Rick); her grandchildren Cassidy Goldsworth (Bill), Jessica Johnson (Andrew), Ian (Chrystal), Tara and Conor Paxson; her great grandchildren Finley, Matthew and Lewis Goldsworth, Olivia and Julia Johnson; her nephew Acie Corrigan (Anna Mae) and too many friends to list. Joan leaves behind a great legacy of beloved friends and family.

A private ceremony will be held on January 30^th, followed by a celebration of life later this spring. You can be sure it will be one heck of a party!

In honor of Joan's passion for animals, donations in lieu of flowers can be made to MaxFund, a No-Kill Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Denver, Colorado.

https://maxfund.org/Donation-Page