Joan Finley McCue

1937 - 2025

Joan Finley McCue
August 28, 1937 - September 8, 2025
Two days before Joan's death, she said, "Teacher. Artist. Parent. The one I am most proud of is parent". She was a very giving parent to daughter Cynthia Lynn McCue and son Gordon William McCue. She sewed many clothes for Cindy and Cindy's dolly. Joan even sewed a night gown and bathrobe for Cindy with Cindy's dolly having a matching set. She sewed Gordon a shirt, complete with an embroidered car. Late into the night, she would help Cindy and Gordon type their school reports.
Joan Mae Finley was born August 28, 1937, to Frederick Lee Finley and Mable Florence Nidros Finley in Santa Rosa, CA. Joanie, as her doting parents called her, was the eldest. Her younger brother was William Lee Finley. July 1946, her world suddenly ended when her parents, brother and 8-year-old Joanie were in a horrific car accident. Her mother died instantly, her father hours later. Her four-year-old brother was not expected to live. Joanie spent "some time" in the hospital. Joanie spent eight years with her parents, knowing she and her brother were loved, then everything changed. Her brother, Billy, survived and went to live with relatives while Joanie went with other relatives. She could have used the intervention of Child Protective Services. But Joanie grew strong and became her own person.
Joan was a fourth generation Sonoma Countian, a fact she was proud of. She spent most of her life in Santa Rosa and even spent some of her young years in the old, white Victorian home at the corner of Mark West Springs Rd and Ursuline Rd. The home burned down during the Tubbs Fire, thus ending a long history of the home being in the Finley Family. Joan attended Lincoln School, Santa Rosa Junior High and Santa Rosa High School. After high school Joan became a Telephone Operator for the phone company. Joan then met the love of her life; Guy William McCue and they were married in 1957. Once Joan had Cynthia, she became a stay-at-home mom. A few years later they welcomed a son, Gordon.
As her children grew older, Joan longed for more out of her life and started classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. She was a reentry student, a student who came to college a few years after graduating high school. She was a pioneer. She thought she wanted the be a nurse, but after tutoring another college student, she found great joy and satisfaction in teaching. After receiving her AA, she went to Sonoma State College (before it became SSU), receiving her BA in 1973 and her Teaching Credential soon after. She taught at Rincon Valley Junior High, Santa Rosa High and was one of the first group of teachers at Maria Carrillo High School. Opening day was on her birthday, August 28, 1996. She retired in 2000 and was a substitute teacher for two years. Social media allowed students to tell her how she impacted their lives and how grateful they are for her pushing them to do their best.
Forty years ago, Joan was invited to be a part of a book club, called My Book Club. They not only shared and spoke of their chosen books but bonded during life's events. These deep friendships meant so much to Joan. Now they have one less member.
Joan enjoyed photography and even had photos of hers on three covers of an English Teachers magazine, California English. She started painting after becoming a widow at 58. Joan did watercolors, pastels and abstracts. She won several awards at the Sonoma County Fair. Her work hung in banks and at the Watercolor Artists of Sonoma County Exhibits. She sold many of her pieces at Art at The Source, in her art studio.
Joan was passionate in helping families cope when a loved one had a mental illness. She became a volunteer instructor for Family-to-Family Educational Programs with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Due to Joan's dedication in fighting for better mental health, she was a 2008 Nominee for Heroes in The Fight.
Joan spent the last eight weeks of her life in the hospital, at a skilled nursing facility and at an assisted living community. While she had many health issues, her main cause of death was COPD. Joan was able to come home to die. Less than 24 hours after being brought home, she was able to leave her pain behind. Her beloved dog, Molly, a Parti Poodle was at her side.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Mabel Finley; her favorite brother, William Finley; and the love of her life, Guy McCue. She is survived by daughter, Cynthia McCue; son-in-law, Clifford De Dora; and son, Gordon McCue. Joan is also survived by numerous cousins, including Noni Gavin and George "R.D." Nidros, who called Joan his sister.
"Tell my friends I love them. They fill my soul." Joan McCue September 6, 2025.
Joan's Celebration of Life, "Celebrating Joan" will be at Daniels Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Ave, Santa Rosa, 11 a.m. on October 29, Wednesday. Immediately following will be a luncheon buffet. Joan loved sunflowers, roses and succulents. In honor of Joan, please wear an item that represents one of these or your favorite color.