Obituary of Mary Joan Williams

MARY "JOAN" WILLIAMS Resident of Santa Cruz Services will be held on Thursday for Mary "Joan" Williams, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, who passed away peacefully at home on April 21, 2012. Born to Jay and Elinor Gates on Sept. 15, 1924 she was raised in Santa Cruz and attended Mission Hill and Santa Cruz High and graduated from Mills College of Oakland in 1947. Following graduation, Joan returned to Santa Cruz and was employed in the office of the County Treasurer and Tax Collector. Soon after she was married to the love of her life Stan Williams, her husband of sixty four years. Stan and Joan raised five children in the Westlake neighborhood. Joan's life was devoted to her family, and her talents as a gourmet cook were often enjoyed by all her children's friends and extended family members. There was always an extra seat at the table for the holidays and birthdays that were especially important to Joan. A loving "Grammy" and great grandmother she always enjoyed a houseful of neighbors and kids swimming and playing in the backyard of the family home. Joan was a great supporter of all the various athletic and artistic events of her beloved children and grand children. Joan also had an interest in both photography and art and traveled extensively with her husband to the Cayman Island, Fiji and Hawaii, as well as several excursions to Super Bowls and reunions involving Stan's Marine Corps buddies. Joan Williams was a past member of both the Daisy and Sigma Alpha Omega Nu. She will be missed by her husband, Stan, and children: Cindy (Terry), Peter (Mary Ann), Sally (Ed) and Joe (Shari); grandchildren Emily (Ryan), Brody, Sean, Drew, Beth, Keith, Keanon, Tyler, Trevor, Joel, Janna, Katrina, B.J., Spencer, Malina, and Jennifer; and great grandchildren Brooklyn, Jameson, and Daisy. She was preceded in death by her daughter Susan, and her sister Elinor "Peach" Williams, The family wishes to thank Hospice, and the special attention and care administered by Rosa Martinez. Donations in Joan Williams' name can be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA. 95066 or Omega Nu of Santa Cruz, P.O. Box 1696, Santa Cruz, CA. 95061. A Memorial Mass for Joan will be held on Thursday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m., Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 Soquel Dr., Aptos.