Obituary for Joan Eileen Gillen
Joan Eileen Gillen
November 18, 1928 -April 4, 2020
On April 4, 2020, Joan Gillen, 91, transitioned peacefully from this life, with her daughter and cat by her side. Many thanks to Hospice of the Northwest for making it possible for her to remain comfortably in her own home, as she wished.
Joan began life November 18, 1928 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, born to Joe and Nellie Martin. At age 19, she immigrated to California to marry the love of her life, Howard Gillen. Together they had a daughter, Sandra, and a son, Don. Their marriage lasted happily over 50 years, until Howard's death in 1999.
Although Joan's high school education was interrupted, she was an enthusiastic life-long learner: completing the GED, taking college classes of interest, becoming fluent in Spanish and French, and researching topics that intrigued her. Her special love was Literature, reading and writing, wandering through imaginative realms, especially poetry. Theater, music, cultural festivals, and art museums enchanted her.
The active outdoor life delighted her. As a child, she spent much of her time playing with her sister Dorothy in the woods. In her 20s, Joan became one of very few female scuba divers and was even featured in the local newspaper. Camping, hiking, and searching for mushrooms made up most family vacations. Once the children left home, Joan and Howard packed up the camper for a 6-month adventure through Mexico. When Sandra moved to Europe, the couple visited twice for road trips through Italy, Germany, and France. Their last trip was to Hawaii for their 50th anniversary.
When Joan and Howard retired to Mt. Vernon WA, she became an avid gardener, creating a little paradise filled with shady trees, colorful flowers, and succulent vegetables, attracting butterflies, birds, and visiting animals. Joan loved animals and was a firm advocate for their preservation and humane treatment. Throughout her life, she adopted and gave a home to many beloved cats.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Jim Martin, her sister Patricia Matus, and her grandson Darryl Penton. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Macey, her children Sandra and Don Gillen, and her cat GoGo. We deeply love and miss our dear sister and mother. She lives forever in our hearts and in the blooms that reappear every year in little paradise.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Joan's name to t"a donation to any charitable organization that saves and protects animals. A local option is the Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter at https//mtvernonanimal.org/donate.or any of the following options:
Skagit Humane Society https://skagithumane.org/gift-donation/
Portland In Defense of Animals https://www.idausa.org/about/donation/
Tiger Haven http://www.tigerhaven.org/page.asp?p=Make%20A%20Donation%20-%20Make%20A%20Difference
Alley Cat Allies
https://getinvolved.alleycat.org/site/Donation2?df_id=8863&mfc_pref=T&8863.donation=form1&s_src=a1o203wdbcn&autologin=true
November 18, 1928 -April 4, 2020
On April 4, 2020, Joan Gillen, 91, transitioned peacefully from this life, with her daughter and cat by her side. Many thanks to Hospice of the Northwest for making it possible for her to remain comfortably in her own home, as she wished.
Joan began life November 18, 1928 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, born to Joe and Nellie Martin. At age 19, she immigrated to California to marry the love of her life, Howard Gillen. Together they had a daughter, Sandra, and a son, Don. Their marriage lasted happily over 50 years, until Howard's death in 1999.
Although Joan's high school education was interrupted, she was an enthusiastic life-long learner: completing the GED, taking college classes of interest, becoming fluent in Spanish and French, and researching topics that intrigued her. Her special love was Literature, reading and writing, wandering through imaginative realms, especially poetry. Theater, music, cultural festivals, and art museums enchanted her.
The active outdoor life delighted her. As a child, she spent much of her time playing with her sister Dorothy in the woods. In her 20s, Joan became one of very few female scuba divers and was even featured in the local newspaper. Camping, hiking, and searching for mushrooms made up most family vacations. Once the children left home, Joan and Howard packed up the camper for a 6-month adventure through Mexico. When Sandra moved to Europe, the couple visited twice for road trips through Italy, Germany, and France. Their last trip was to Hawaii for their 50th anniversary.
When Joan and Howard retired to Mt. Vernon WA, she became an avid gardener, creating a little paradise filled with shady trees, colorful flowers, and succulent vegetables, attracting butterflies, birds, and visiting animals. Joan loved animals and was a firm advocate for their preservation and humane treatment. Throughout her life, she adopted and gave a home to many beloved cats.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Jim Martin, her sister Patricia Matus, and her grandson Darryl Penton. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Macey, her children Sandra and Don Gillen, and her cat GoGo. We deeply love and miss our dear sister and mother. She lives forever in our hearts and in the blooms that reappear every year in little paradise.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Joan's name to t"a donation to any charitable organization that saves and protects animals. A local option is the Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter at https//mtvernonanimal.org/donate.or any of the following options:
Skagit Humane Society https://skagithumane.org/gift-donation/
Portland In Defense of Animals https://www.idausa.org/about/donation/
Tiger Haven http://www.tigerhaven.org/page.asp?p=Make%20A%20Donation%20-%20Make%20A%20Difference
Alley Cat Allies
https://getinvolved.alleycat.org/site/Donation2?df_id=8863&mfc_pref=T&8863.donation=form1&s_src=a1o203wdbcn&autologin=true