Joan Renken McKee

Joan Helene Renken McKee, age 88, passed away on January 1, 2023. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert Lyden McKee and loving mother of four children: Kathleen Helene McKee Garey (Richard) of Lacombe, Paul Robert McKee (Lee) of Metairie, Brian Renken McKee of New Orleans, and Shawn Hayward McKee (Mary) of New Orleans. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Zulay Maria Garey Gilbert (Daniel), Jason Robert Garey (Meghann), Melissa Helene Garey Harrington (Christopher), Ricardo William Garey, Kevin Patrick McKee, Arden Lucille Dwyer McKee, and Isabelle Elise Dwyer McKee, as well as 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Dr. Paul William Renken and Helene Reuss Hayward Renken. Joan was born on September 19, 1934 in New Orleans, and was a lifelong resident of Southeast Louisiana. Her early childhood was spent in Burrwood, LA where her father was a general practitioner, often doing house calls by boat. When she reached school age, the family moved to New Orleans where she attended and later graduated from Metairie Park Country Day School before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Newcomb College. Throughout her youth she spent time with her extended family, enjoying her horses and other animals. Her love of animals, particularly dogs, lasted a lifetime, as she took in and cared for strays, and always had one or more dogs under her care. When her children were young and in school, she volunteered for the Symphony Book Fair. When they grew older, she worked in the Tulane University School of Architecture Library. While there, she developed a keen interest in historic preservation and restoration and put that to use in the early 1980s to save the decaying Ashland-Belle Helene Plantation home in Geismar, LA, which had been in the family for nearly a century. Family and the family’s history were always important to her. In her last years, she turned to writing so that those who survived her and those yet to come could know more about her life and the impacts of the generations that came before. Her impact on her own family and on those around her was immeasurable, and her family will miss her dearly.

Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM followed immediately by the Funeral Services at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 9th at the Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to either the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org ) or your local animal shelter.

To share your fond thoughts, memories, and condolences with the family, please visit the online guestbook at lakelawnmetairie.com