Remembering Our Mom 

Oh… just seeing her name makes a flood of stories come to mind—stories that anyone who knew Joanie will tell with a smile. She was such an anomaly… a woman who could be a force to be reckoned with, but with a heart of gold.

 

The first thing most people think of when they talk about Joanie is her cooking. She could make a meal big enough for an army—potato salad for a BBQ, mashed potatoes and gravy at Thanksgiving, Meatloaf Sunday dinners, and o-o-o-h-h-h… her spaghetti. Everything she made was delicious, and she rarely used a recipe; it was always a matter of memory and taste. She poured her love into her cooking, welcoming anyone and everyone to pull up a chair. And at the end of the night, she’d make sure everyone went home with leftovers—even though she would never eat leftovers herself.

 

Then, of course, there was her glamour. Joanie was a TRUE believer that a lady should never leave the house without a stitch of makeup. She followed in the footsteps of classic icons—Jackie O, Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor (people often said her beauty resembled Elizabeth’s). Her familiar morning routine… spending hours artfully "applying her face" while sipping coffee and talking on the phone (quite a feat). And no matter where she traveled—Westport, Disney, anywhere—she always packed her magnifying mirror, tweezers, eyelash curler, and an arsenal of cosmetics.

 

But above all, Joanie dearly loved her family and friends. She had a remarkable knack for remembering you. Birthdays, baby showers, weddings, anniversaries… or simply because you popped into her mind. She was always reaching out with a phone call, a card, a text, a present, or clippings of articles and recipes she thought you’d enjoy.

 

And no one can overlook Joanie’s opinions. I’m sure everyone has felt like they’ve been in her crosshairs. She would let you know exactly what she was thinking—sometimes with a shrug, eye roll, or brow lift… sometimes with a caustic comment or by holding a grudge. Today, she’d be called spicy, feisty, hard-headed, snarky, or a spitfire. Maybe it was due to growing up as the middle child of ten in the 1940s… who knows. But, she was unapologetically Joanie.

 

Then there was her passion for shopping. Purses, clothes, holiday decorations, gifts for her grandkids—anything, really. Whether it was TJ Maxx, the Mall, online shopping, or QVC… Joanie was always up for a shopping trip and lunch. (She’s one of the only people I know who actually stood outside on Black Friday.) She loved a little flair—sparkle, sequins, glitz. A full day at the mall was her dream outing, especially with her friend Traci Biss.

 

She also loved a good romantic comedy or chick-lit novel—everything from That Touch of Mink, Gigi & ANYTHING Elvis or Cary Grant, to Mama Mia and A Star Is Born, along with novels by Danielle Steel & Sue Grafton.

 

And then there were all her little habits… She always, always had to lock her car door—and remind you to lock yours, especially if someone was nearby at a light. She had to have pepper with her meals, or they wouldn’t be as good as they could be. She loved an ice-cold beer in the summer (mixed with V8) and absolutely hated yard work. She would NEVER walk out to get the mail. Her favorite ride at Disneyland was Indiana Jones, and she and JR would sneak away to ride it multiple times. She ALWAYS had room for dessert.

 

Her laughter, smile, and sense of humor were contagious. If there was going to be a gathering, Joanie was there—family dinners, reunions, BBQs at the lake, cards and games, crab boils at Westport, countless parties at the Theriault’s, Peterson’s, Hokenson’s, Thompson’s, Sullivan’s, Nelson’s, Nilsen’s, Biss’s, and beloved friends’ homes. (One favorite story: JR and Joanie showing up at Pete & Rose Hokenson’s Halloween party—JR dressed as a nurse, Joanie as a nun.)

 

And then her unending LOVE for her seven grandchildren—Michael, Matthew, Mason, Aidan, Brett, Paul, and Luke—and her two great-grandchildren, Elinor Joan and John Lawrence. Joanie’s devotion to her family was always on her mind. Being with her grandchildren at any time was pure joy. She never missed their achievements—award ceremonies, plays, birthdays, school events, sports. She was always there to help her daughters and others raise their children with enormous love. (I remember her letting the grandkids play with birdseed in the kitchen… and to JR’s dismay, a tree actually started growing in the sink. The laundry basket full of bath toys… hours of making any cookies or ice cream sundaes the grandkids wanted.) We are so grateful that she was able to meet her great granddaughter at Ellie’s first birthday party in Depoe Bay, OR. 

 

And the decorations… any holiday, any birthday—Joanie had something stashed away waiting to be pulled out. Easter bunny plates and statues, pumpkins and skeletons on every counter, and matching kitchen and bath towels. But Christmas… o-o-o-h-h-h… Christmas was her FAVORITE. The decorations, the tree, the music, the meticulous wrapping of presents. JR and Joanie would stay up late making sure everything was perfect. I always joked that their living room looked like the Christmas tree had erupted all over the house. She couldn’t stand waiting for us to wake up on Christmas morning, so she’d stand in our room turning the lights on and off until we groggily stumbled out while she and JR sipped coffee, enjoying the morning.

 

And then the men Joanie loved—Neil Diamond (with so many memories of her singing to him while cooking), Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, and, of course, our dad, JR. Mom and dad met on a blind date, and as the story goes- she told him that night that she was going to marry him. And marry him, she did. JR and Joanie were married for 59 years, until dad passed away from lung cancer in 2005. The absence of her husband for 20 years was so difficult for her; a huge hole was left in her heart. Even though their marriage wasn’t perfect, their love was always there—in a touch, holding hands, an inside joke, a look across the room. He was the love of her life. (My favorite memory: catching them dancing slowly in the kitchen, forgetting dinner was on the stove.)

 

Mom… you will be missed by so many, and in so many ways. We will always cherish the time we had with you. We’ll watch over your grandchildren and great-grandchildren as we promised. We’ll think of you every time there’s a rainbow, knowing you’re saying “Hi.” And we’ll always look to the night sky, knowing you and Dad are shining stars watching over us. Especially the ones hovering over the castles in Disney… you both will always.

 

 

Obituary of Joan M. Peterson

Joan (Joanie) Mae Peterson (Theriault), 85 from Tacoma, WA passed peacefully away surrounded by her 3 daughters after battling End Stage Renal Disease.

 

Joanie was born on May 25th, 1940, to Clarence & Ruth Theriault. Joanie was 1 of their 10 children. She attended the Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart for elementary years and graduated high school at St. Leo’s. After graduating, she worked in Lakewood, WA at a dental clinic. In 1966 she met Godfrey (JR) Peterson on a blind date, married that fall and had 3 daughters. Joanie enjoyed raising the girls and also helping raise her 7 grandchildren and many of her nieces and nephews before having children of her own. 

 

She loved family, cooking, entertaining and Neil Diamond. Joanie was predeceased by her husband JR in 2005 but carried their love in her heart for 20 years. She is survived by daughter Amy McCormick (husband Mike, sons Michael (Brittney), Matthew and Mason); daughter Megan Overton (daughter Aidan and son Brett); daughter Amanda Halvorson (sons Paul and Luke); and great grandchildren Elinor Joan and John Lawrence McCormick.

 

Services will be held graveside @ Cromwell Cemetery in Gig Harbor at 11am on December 16th, followed by a celebration of life @ The Kindship Atrium in Gig Harbor immediately following. **Please RSVP in Event Invitation below**