Joan Carol Pena

In Loving Memory of Joan Carol Pena (McIntosh) December 11, 1945 – July 29, 2025
With profound love and sorrow, we celebrate the life of Joan Carol Pena (McIntosh) - a woman whose hands were rarely still, whose garden never stopped blooming, and whose heart held generations of love. Joan passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, kindness, and unforgettable warmth.
Born on December 11, 1945, Joan was the kind of person who could turn a pile of fabric into a quilt of memories or transform a simple dinner into a family tradition. Her craft table was a place of magic-buttons, beads, and lace arranged in joyful chaos, often under the curious gaze of her children and grandchildren. Her sewing machine hummed like a lullaby through countless late nights, creating Easter dresses, Halloween costumes, baby blankets, and more than a few last-minute school projects.
Joan's home was always fragrant-sometimes with the scent of roses from her garden, other times with fresh, mexican food, tortillas, and other cuisines. She cooked not just with ingredients, but with stories, laughter, and just a little more spice to make things just right.
A natural artist, Joan saw beauty in the everyday. She painted with a light hand, played the organ with reverence and joy, and planted flowers like she was composing a song. Her garden was her retreat and her canvas- tomatoes red as summer, and roses that somehow knew just when to bloom.
She was the center of every gathering and the calm in every storm. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Joan was a steadfast presence-offering advice with love. Her greatest joy was watching the multiple generations she nurtured grow, always being there with an encouraging word or a warm hug.
Joan is survived by her partner, Rudy Romero, her daughter, Tonia and son-in-law, Will Rodriguez, daughter, Karri and son-in-law, Sky Wescott, son, Isidro and daughter-in-law, Kim Pena and daughter, Ramona and son-in-law, Jack Phelps. She also leaves behind 15 grandchildren, Elisa, Angie, Noel, Michael, David, Levi, Grace, Lily, Sam, Courtney, Kevin, Sarah, Jessikah, Jacklyn, Maddysen, as well as 14 great-grandchildren, Issac, Brianna,Dominic, Mariah, Joshua, Little J, Gabriel, Marley, Gwen, Annaleia, Jaxxon, Tyler, Hudson, and Levi each of whom carries a piece of her spirit-whether in their creativity, stubbornness, kindness, or their love. In her honor, plant something beautiful, bake something from scratch, sew something by hand or tell a story and never underestimate the magic of a grandma with a glue gun.
There will be a viewing for Joan held at Sterling and Smith Funeral Home, 409 N. K St, Tulare, CA on Tuesday, August 5th, from 4-8pm. A service will held at Tulare First Baptist Church, 469 N. Cherry, Tulare, CA, on Wednesday, August 6th at 10am, followed by a graveside service at Tulare North Cemetary. Following the graveside service, there will be a reception at Tulare First Baptist. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of JOAN, please visit our Tree Store.