Joanne Ruth Webb

Our Mom was born to John Frederick Weiland and Ruth Mary Weiland on Oct. 20, 1931. She was one of nine children: John Frederick Jr., Pat, Elsie, Dan, Catherine, Janet, Pauline and the baby was Tom. There are only two surviving siblings: sister Pauline and brother-in-law Bob of Salem, and brother Tom and sister-in-law Patty of Tigard. She was loved by numerous nieces and nephews. Her family is very close and love each other very much.

Joanne was raised in Ashton, South Dakota, on a large family farm (wheat, corn and other crops), which the family still owns. The family farm was homesteaded by her grandfather, Julius Weiland, in 1879. She moved to Portland, Oregon, with her family in 1947, and as a sophomore attended and graduated from Franklin High School. Joanne subsequently attended and graduated from nursing school at St. Joseph’s in Vancouver, Washington.

She met our father, Francis Orville Webb, on a blind date and fell in love. They were married on Feb. 19, 1955, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Portland. They moved to Orick, California, where they started their own family.

Joanne and Francis had three children, and I just have to say they were the best kids ever. My parents would have agreed, I think. They are son John Webb and daughter-in-law Kristin, daughter Susie Graham and son-in-law Pat and son Bill Webb and daughter-in-law Amy. They all live in Astoria. Joanne loved her children, but her pride and joy was her one and only grandson, Jacob Graham, who lives in Aberdeen, Washington. Joanne was the very best of grandmas, and kept her grandson with a never-ending supply of chocolate chip cookies.

Our parents had 52 wonderful years together until our Dad passed away in 2007.

I cannot forget Puff, her beloved cat. Puff kept Joanne company, and Joanne provided Puff a soft seat on her lap. Joanne’s son, Bill, will be giving Puff a new home.

Joanne started her nursing career in Eureka, California. She continued her nursing career after they had packed up their family and moved to Astoria, Oregon, in 1967. She worked at Columbia Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse in the obstetrics department for the rest of her career, and for many years was the OB manager. She retired when she was 63.

Joanne was very active in her church, St. Francis De Sales Mission in Hammond. Joanne volunteered for numerous groups. She worked the garage sales for Clatsop Care Center and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She also volunteered at the senior center serving lunches. She was an active member on a committee to raise funds for Clatsop Care Center.

Joanne loved gardening and really had a green thumb. She kept her family supplied with fresh lettuce, garlic and tomatoes. Her yard is beautiful! Our mom canned everything including: pears, pickles, jams, tuna and apple cider, which she also shared with her family. She loved to collect antiques and to read. One of her favorite activities was her swim and exercise class. Her fellow swim-class members were good friends and often did outside activities together such as lunches and blueberry picking together. She was also an avid puzzle worker.

Our mom was the kindest and most generous person I know. We will all miss her deeply.

We wish to thank all the staff at the Columbia Memorial Hospital emergency department for the kind care they gave our mom.

A rosary will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 10, and a memorial Mass is at noon, at St. Francis De Sales Mission, 867 Fifth Ave., in Hammond. A reception follows at the South Jetty Inn, 984 Pacific Drive, in Hammond.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Francis De Sales Mission in Hammond or Clatsop Care Center.