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Joan Gilliam Obituary
April 27, 1924
January 11, 2008
A longtime resident of Sacramento passed away peacefully last Friday. Born in Casper, Wyo., the daughter of Ann Mechaley and Joseph Paul Jonen, Joan attended Saint Anthony's School and was a 1942 graduate of Natrona County High School in Casper. After graduating from High School, she went to worked as a Deputy County Clerk in Natrona County. She followed her parents to Sacramento in 1945. While she started classes at Sacramento Junior College, not wanting to be a burden on her parents, she went to work for the State Board of Nursing Examiners and then the Sacramento Builders' Exchange. In 1950 she married Charles Stanley "Stan" Gilliam and settled into a life as an urban housewife. The couple moved to River Park in 1952 and remained there until 2004, when they moved to Mercy McMahon Terrace in East Sacramento. While raising their three children, Joan worked part-time as secretary for the CSUS Newman Center. At age 50, after her children were grown, she returned to school and graduated from Sacramento City College and went on to earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University, Sacramento, in 1978.
Once she obtained her degree, she decided she did not want to take a job away from a young person. Instead, she became a consummate volunteer. After a year-long training course, she became a charter docent for the Sacramento History - later Discovery - Museum and also served the Sacramento Public Library, a county school for developmentally delayed infants, the Sacramento Food Bank, and the Wellspring Women's Center. She was still working as a volunteer when she was struck down by illness in December of 2007. Joan also offered tireless involvement in Catholic organizations her entire life. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charles Stanley Gilliam, sons John A. "Tony" Gilliam of Challis, Idaho, and Stuart C. Gilliam of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; daughter Ann Dolora "Anndee" Gilliam of Laramie, Wyo., four grandsons (Pat Banks and Jonathan and Michael Gilliam and Tim Gilliam) and two granddaughters (Rose Banks and Amanda Gilliam).
A Mass of Christian Burial Service will be held Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 39th and J Street, Sacramento, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a memorial contribution to either the Sacramento Food Bank or Wellspring Women's Center.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joan Gilliam
Archie Hurst GUHS 1951
January 18, 2008
Stan, May faith and prayer give you and your family strength through this difficult time. Remembering you always in prayer.
God Bless,
Dellois Toulouse
January 18, 2008
My sincere sympathy to you Mr. Gilliam and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Dellois Toulouse, GUHS class of 1955
Peggy Soliz
January 18, 2008
Mr. Gilliam (my home room teacher GUHS 1951) sorry for the loss of your lovely wife Joan. May God be with you during this time. Peggy Penrod Soliz
Linda Canfield Scott
January 17, 2008
Dear Stan....my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family but I'm thinking also, of the great memories I have of you and Joan, particularly her warm smile and quiet elegance along with your sense of humor. We always looked forward to your attendance at our Grant class of '55 reunions, and most recently, seeing you at the Sac State Alumni Breakfast Club. I am so sorry for your loss but know that the wonderful memories you have with Joan will help sustain you through this difficult time. May God bless you.
With love and admiration,
Linda
Class of '55
Lola Daigle
January 17, 2008
Dear Stan & family:
So sorry to hear of Joan's passing. She was not only a life-long partner to you but your best friend through the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Lola (Dykes) and Paul Daigle
Wendy Cooper
January 16, 2008
Dear Stan and family,
I was greatly saddened to hear of Joann's passing. My deepest sympathy to her family. I last saw Joann at The Bee's 25 Year Club in October.
I also work in Guest Services (as an usher) at the River Cats baseball games and always enjoyed visiting with Stan and Joann. They are both such wonderful people. Joann wore a wonderfully unique perfume and I would smell it as I walked through the stadium and would think to myself, "Joann's here somewhere!" I will miss both her presence and her perfume.
At my daughters house a few months back
Ron Hall
January 15, 2008
Would like to offer my condolences
to all the family. God Bless you all.
Johnnie Matranga
January 15, 2008
Dear Stan and Family,
On behalf of the Grant Union High School Alumni Association, I am sending our deepest sympathy for your loss. Joan was a special part of our close knit alumni family that she married into and fully embraced for so many years.
Sincerely,
Johnnie Matranga
President, GUHSAA
Leora Matranga
January 15, 2008
Dear Stan and Family,
You and Joan have played such a special role in our lives ever since we were fortunate to cross paths at Grant High School. I especially remember how lucky my classes were to have Joan as our docent on field trips to the History Center. Then of course there were all of our class reunions where the two of you faithfully attended. Our lives have been enriched for knowing her.
Leora and Johnnie Matranga
Mary Bradley
January 15, 2008
Joan - what can I say - you were like a second mother to me, living across the street for 51 years of my life. No matter what my brother Craig and Tony got into or me and Stuart you never got mad or told my mom on us. You and Stan took very good care of us especially my mother when my father passed away. I am very fortunate that my girls have a loving and lasting relationship with Rose, Johno, Mikie and Pat. I'll love you forever and never forget you.
Love Mary Jean
Carl Depew
January 15, 2008
Stan, from Max's family to yours, our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Brenda Dixon-Duenas
January 15, 2008
Stan,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your lifemate, Joan. My best to your family.
Brenda Dixon
GUHS Class of '57
Barbara Frago
January 15, 2008
"Gracious" would be the word to describe Joan. Her smile was always so noticeable at all the class reunions she attended with Stan. The love between them was so expressed and Stan will always have the memories they shared. I want to offer Stan my deepest sympathy.
Sincerely -- Barbara (Bolden) Frago
GUHS Class of '51
Suzi Thelen
January 15, 2008
Stan and Family-my deepest sympathies are with you. Joan was such a beautiful woman inside and out. I will always remember her being so full of life!
My Mom now has her best friend with her and they are probably watching us from gold bar stools sharing many memories and laughing.
MARV KARNOFSKY
January 15, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Marv & Jeannine Karnofsky
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