Joan Marie Anderson

Joan Marie Wester Anderson, 84, went home to be with the Lord on March 1, 2023. She was born in Chicago on August 12, 1938, to the late Theodore “Ted” and Monica (Noesges) Wester. She was preceded in death by William (Bill), her husband of 59 years, and his seven siblings: Patricia, Mary Ann, Joe, Jim, Carol, Rita, and Tom.

She is survived by her five devoted children: Chris (Paula), Tim, Bill (Anh), Brian, and Nancy; her five beloved grandchildren: Kelly, Sean, Jack, Michael, and Mary Beth; her three loving siblings: Pam, Jerry (Cindy) and Sue (Jim); dozens of nieces and nephews, and extended family.

Joan and Bill raised their family in Arlington Heights. When Joan wasn’t chasing after kids, trying to find lost gerbils in the house, or cleaning up a mess, she would steal time away to write. She began with family humor magazine articles (often using true tales of her husband’s and children’s escapades as material). Love, Lollipops and Laundry was her first book, co-authored with friend Ann Toland Serb. She wrote several other non-fiction books but ultimately became known for her books on angels. Where Angels Walk was her breakout best seller in in 1993, spending 55 weeks on the New York Times best seller list. She was dubbed the “angel lady” as her career skyrocketed, resulting in over a dozen books of true stories of angels and miracles. She made appearances on popular TV shows such as Oprah and Larry King Live, and had speaking engagements around the country. Loretta Young, a famous actress from the 30s, 40s and 50s, was a fan of Joan’s books and personally asked her to write her biography. Forever Young was published in 2000.

Joan loved music and sang in various church choirs over the years. If she found a piano, she could sit and play old favorites from memory. She was a social butterfly and made friends wherever she went. She loved a good mystery novel, and was an avid gardener.

Joan was also a woman of deep Catholic faith and love of the Lord. Despite the challenges she faced in life, she pressed on and her faith never wavered. Now she is home, reunited with her husband, and finally, her angels. “You’re in the arms of the angel; may you find some comfort here.”

Memorial Visitation Friday, March 10, 2023, from 3:00pm until 8:00pm at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road (4 blocks south of Palatine Road), in Arlington Heights; and from 9:00am until time of Memorial Mass at 11:00am, Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Addolorata Villa, Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, 557 McHenry Road, Wheeling, Illinois, 60090. Committal Service following at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Addolorata Villa.