Joan Susan Andre

Joan Andre was born on February 23, 1943 at 8:58 a.m. at Denver General Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Her name at birth was Joan Leslie Valen, daughter of Leslie Valen and Helen Cox Valen, both members of the U.S Military at the time. On February 23, 1944, she was legally adopted by Robert N. Egly and Ama D.(Cutshall) Egly, originally from Nebraska, who changed her name to Joan Susan Egly. The Eglys added a natural son, Jack Egly, to the family and moved from town to town in Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa, the children attending many different schools. Finally, they added Northern California to their sojourn and moved to Sacramento, CA. In 1963, Joan met Edward (Bud) Andre of San Francisco who became her husband. The Andre's had one son, Stephen Edward Andre, born in San Francisco, (as was his father), and now resides in San Diego, CA. Her mother, Ama Egly died in 1996 and her father Robert Egly in 2001. Joan and her husband lived together by the ocean in Half Moon Bay, CA, a place they loved, for over forty years. While Edward, in high and low society, known as "Bud" pursued careers in religion, business and law enforcement over the years, Joan worked in support services for a variety of companies. She earned California licenses in real estate, insurance and securities. She enjoyed a sixteen year career in real estate before leaving it to make time "to smell the flowers". Her favorite employment then began at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California where she was a departmental office manager for eight years. Here she was able to fulfill her longtime dream of studying and writing and earning a university degree. She graduated "with honors" with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in 2011, having brought her considerable native talent to several art exhibitions at NDNU's Art Gallery and published several poems, reviews and articles. In retirement, The Andres enjoyed their home and the dramatic moods of the mighty Pacific Ocean in front of their home in Half Moon Bay, CA. In late 2015, Joan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and was admitted to the Three Bells of Montara, CA care facility in December of that year. Subsequently, she moved to Sun Valley Chateau in Pacifica, CA, where she spent the remainder of her life. It is impossible to adequately describe the abundance of loving care and attention from the staff that she received there during the last years of her life and the heartfelt gratitude of her devastated family. In a poem she wrote for her mother's funeral, she described the lowering of the casket into the ground, concluding "they told me my mother was in that casket... but I knew better!" Just as we now know better that Joan is forever in us and not in some dark and lonely box. At her own request, therefore, no formal public service will be held. Instead, she clearly stated that she would much prefer that we think of her now and then with kind thoughts and let her live again, even for a few brief moments, in our hearts and minds. We will always love and miss you, Joan! See you soon! - Bud