Joan Marie Hebert

1930 - 2023

Joan Marie Hebert built the life she wanted, and helped many others become their best selves. Joan was born in Bay City Michigan, attended the University of Michigan and became a psychologist. For her, it was a way of being: listening and talking to help people develop a more authentic life. Joan married and had three children in the 1950's. She and her children moved to California in the 60's and enjoyed the creativity of the West Coast. Joan was an 'early adopter' of environmentalism, fitness, technology, and electric vehicles. Joan was a Democrat and supported women candidates who championed equal pay, reproductive rights, and education. Joan was very active: walking everywhere, and swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Joan had a full-time career as a school psychologist, saying, "You had to help the kids make some peace and cope with their current lives." Joan's primary love was to her children and grandchildren. Joan expected honesty from everyone, and she would tell you what she felt! Over the decades, Joan and her husband Erik remodeled four homes; kitchens, baths, even moved walls and doors! Joan liked to travel to new places and hosted many family vacations in Hawaii, other states and throughout California.Joan didn't consider a visit from family or friends complete without a heart-to-heart talk. Since Joan had to make her own way, she was determined to help her family build assets including education and homeownership. In 2010, Joan and Erik moved to Santa Cruz to be closer to her daughters and grandsons. In her last decade, she developed Alzheimer's disease. Joan lived out her days in her own home. Special thanks to her in-home team, especially grandson Greg, and caregivers Faustine, Bonnie, Kathy, and Hanny. Joan is survived by her two daughters, Leslie Fitzgerald and Ellen Fitzgerald Murtha (Brian); her four grandsons, Michael Fitzgerald, Chris Ocano (Caroline), Greg Ocano (Vilma), and Russell Swartz, one great-grandson, Cyrus Ocano, her sister Sue, nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her beloved twin, Jim, her parents John and Helen Hebert, her bother Richard, her sister Betts Conway, her son Tommy, and her husbands. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, Feb 19th at RCNV at 1:00pm. Joan valued herself and cared deeply for people.