Joan Marie Carroll

Joan Marie Carroll, 91, passed away in her home on July 7th, 2025. She was born in Tarrytown, New York, on October 10, 1933, to Salvador Bianchine and Loudwina Sousa Bianchine. She graduated from high school in 1951 and completed Beauty School before moving cross-country to California.
She attended USO dances and met the love of her life, William "Bill" Carroll. They married upon his dismissal from the Navy on September 4, 1954. They spent their honeymoon traveling cross-country, visiting Yellowstone before reaching Bill's hometown of Arkansas City, Kansas, where they made their home.. For a short time, she worked as a telephone operator before becoming a full-time homemaker.
She and Bill had three children: Jerre, Judi, and Robert 'Robby.' She was an amazing cook and always made sure everyone was there for Sunday dinner. Over the years, she was very active at Sacred Heart Parish and the Sacred Heart Altar Society. She prepared countless meals for weddings, funerals, and parish events, including her famous cranberry sauce, which was a staple of every annual turkey dinner.
She cooked almost every meal and taught the importance of gathering around the table. She was a talented seamstress, even sewing wedding dresses and spent many years enjoying her hobby of crocheting. She lovingly made countless afghans for her children and tiny "lovies" for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Along with blankets that are still held tightly today as if they are a little hug from Grandma.
In 1977, she earned a new title: Grandma. She took care of babies, prepared meals, made after-school snacks, hosted sleepovers, cut hair, sewed clothes, and taught her grandchildren how to cook, clean, and appreciate the value of family. She was a true matriarch.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William B. "Bill" Carroll; her father, Salvy Bianchine; her stepfather, Manuel Amaral; her mother, Loudwina Amaral; and her son-in-law, Mark Williams.
She is survived by her daughters, Jerre Williams, Judi Befort, and son, Rob Carroll, and his wife, Janet. She was lovingly known as Grandma to her grandchildren: Shawn (Christy) Williams, Ryan (Dori) Williams, Chris (Allison) Befort, Mallory (Derek) Avery, Beau (Elizabeth) Befort, Molly (Brandon) Walker, Noah (Maureen) Befort, and Jeb (Maranda Beyard) Carroll.
She was also blessed with many great-grandchildren, including Tyler (Beth), Cody, Raigan, Trent, Jolie, Brant, Aubrey, Brody, Hunter, Addison, Rafe, MacKenzie, Tillie, Rhett, Bennett, Jiren, Quinn, Kara, Bulla, Raena, Kyler, Dax, along with great-great-grandchildren Peyton and Owen.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, July 10th, 2025. The Rosary will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.