Joan Marie Ranney

Early morning Wednesday, September 18th, 2019, God decided it was time to take our beloved "Joanie" from this world and welcome her into the gates of heaven. She is in a better place now, free from pain, worry, and stress. She's got some catching up to do with her Mom and Dad, Mary and Frank, and a lot of dancing, smiles, and laughter to share together. To have Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa all watching over us now, I know we will all be in good hands.

Joan Ranney lived her life selflessly, always doing for others and being helpful in any way she could. She was genuine and loyal, loving and caring. She would give anything to, and do anything for her loved ones. She was always giving of herself, totally authentic, and absolutely one of a kind. She spread love and smiles everywhere she went and touched the lives and hearts of anyone who was lucky enough to know her.

Joan was born in San Mateo, Ca. on December 30th, 1954, to especially strong and loving Catholic parents, Frank and Mary Vaillancourt. She and her two sisters, Gale and Marie, were afforded the opportunity to receive private, Catholic schooling through their Mother and Father's hard work and sacrifices. Joan graduated from Mercy high school in 1973 and then attended Notre Dame De Namur for college in 1974. Later that year, she married her husband, Dave, and became Mr. and Mrs. Ranney. Two years after that, Joan and Dave had their 1st son, Paul Matthew Ranney, on October 18th, 1976. Three and a half years later, they would welcome their second son, Mark Francis Ranney into the world on April 1st 1980.

Joan was an amazingly hard worker, always keeping the house, the yard, and the garden looking beautiful, raising two sons, and she also spent some years teaching elementary school students. Our Joanie loved kids, as they did her, and shared a special connection with them. She especially loved spending time whenever she could with her grand children, Taylor and Parker Ranney. They endearingly referred to her as "Grandma California". Joan's great nephew, Joey, and her Great Nieces, Maddie and Hailey, were practically her grand children too, the way she spoiled them and loved them so much.

Joan was a strong, caring, and special Mother, a devoted wife, fun, energetic, and loving Grand Mother, and the sweetest Great Aunt any little ones could ever be blessed with. That is who she was to the day she died and she will continue to love us, inspire us, and live through us all.

"Joanie Bologna" is also survived by her two sisters, Gale Vaillancourt and Marie Nielsen, who gave her that name when she was little and stuck her throughout the years. They were truly the closest three sisters could ever be. Joan will also be dearly missed by numerous other friends and family who loved her tremendously. Joanie's favorite place to be was in Lake Tahoe on our annual family vacation, laughing and playing with the children, and just enjoying being together with her family. She was able to enjoy to the fullest, one last Tahoe trip this year with us just over a month before she passed.

Her strong Catholic faith that was instilled in her by her Mother and Father, and that she practiced and lived by throughout her life, gave her the strength and courage to persevere through the hard times, and acceptance and serenity in her final hours. She left this world painlessly and peacefully, in her sleep, with her husband and both of her sons at her bedside.