Joyce Smart Fante

Fante, Joyce Smart
A Malibu resident for fifty-five years, and the widow of the late novelist and screenwriter John Fante, died Tuesday, June 7th at Ocean Villas Retirement Home in Santa Monica from respiratory failure. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Fante, a third generation Californian and the daughter of Joseph Hutchins Smart, a famed nineteenth century northern California Gold Rush land developer, was also a relative of revolutionary war hero Nathan Hale. Mrs. Fante was one of the first women to attend Stanford University. An editor and published poet before the age of twenty, in later years Joyce Fante wrote essays and poetry and edited the work of her husband. She is survived by two sons, Dan Fante and James P. Fante, a daughter Victoria Fante Cohen, and eight grandchildren. There will be a viewing at Our Lady of Malibu Church on Monday, June 13th from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. A funeral Mass will follow. Mrs. Fante will be buried with her late husband at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Holy Cross Mortuary Directors (310)836-5500