Joanne Elizabeth Pence's Obituary
Joanne Elizabeth Pence, (neè Harvey) died suddenly, September 17, 2024 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in the Intensive Care Unit from Sepsis-related complications at the age of 73.
Joanne is survived by her husband Merle, sons Matthew and Steven, and daughter Kelly. Merle and Joanne were married for 51 years. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Father and Step-father.
Joanne was born on October 29, 1950 in Los Angeles, California at Hospital of the Good Samaritan to Elizabeth June Pierce and Wylie Watkins McKay Harvey. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1973 with a degree in Secondary Education with dreams of becoming a school teacher. One semester of substitute teaching in a high school cured her of pursuing that vocation.
Joanne met Merle at Nevada Southern University (later renamed UNLV) on the first day of class, 8:00 AM, in a 600 seat lecture hall, introduced by a mutual friend. Joanne and Merle married in 1973, in Westminster, California after she graduated from UNLV and he finished his four plus years in the US Navy as a Minesweep Electrician Second Class.
With the birth of her first child in 1975, Joanne felt staying at home was best for her family while living in Huntington Beach, California. The imminent birth of Steven, their second child, prompted a search for more room and the best possible schools. They moved to nearby Costa Mesa, where Joanne became the Scholastic Book Program coordinator at Matthew’s preschool.
She was dedicated to her children. Joanne volunteered in classrooms, at fundraisers, at Girl Scout and Boy Scout events (including becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster), La Leche League, and soccer for all three children. Trained as a teacher, Joanne knew the capabilities of her children and fostered an appreciation of learning through curious examination and discussions of differing attitudes. From a very young age, Joanne told her children, “College is what you do after High School!”
As an accomplished amateur musician, Joanne sang in church and community choirs, played six and twelve string guitars, banjo and taught herself to play piano in her “spare” time. She was a seamstress, artist, sculptor, lover of music, voracious reader, champion of children and human rights, mother and wife; Joanne was a renaissance woman.
Joanne asked that there be no funeral service, celebration of life or formal memorial service.
Joanne supported Planned Parenthood and their programs on women’s health. A believer in the dissemination of ideas, Joanne supported reading programs, libraries that resisted the banning of books, programs that promote and teach writing and communication skills, because an informed public is the bedrock of a Democracy.
For those of like minds, and in lieu of flowers to the living, contributions can be made in her name to organizations underpinning these ideals.
The Pence family thanks and recognizes the comfort and support from the ladies of BLuSH, all of the Toy & Joy Committee, all of her healthcare at Providence St Vincent Hospital and Home Healthcare and the entire staff of Fresenius Kidney Care, St Helens, Oregon.
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