Joan Elise Parks

Joan Elise (Huber) Parks, 85, of La Mesa, California passed away on Monday, August 2, 2021. Joan Elise was born with her identical twin Jean Marie on August 14, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio; the daughters of the late Louis & Clara (Kline) Huber, who so lovingly adopted the twins!! Rita (Jean) and Theresa (Joan) ~Ri and Te~ were adopted in 1940. Orphans until they were almost 5 years old, they always had each other. When they were both married and older, they found their two brothers Chuck and Jim. Many wonderful years were spent together with the 4 siblings and their families.

Joan was a 1953 graduate of Canton Central Catholic High School and a 1956 graduate of Mercy School of Nursing in Canton, Ohio. Joan was an RN for 50 years. Joan worked at Mercy Hospital after graduation, she then worked at Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer, Indiana, Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois and Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Illinois. After moving to California, Joan worked as an RN for Aetna Health until she retired. Retiring for Joan meant working as an RN giving seasonal flu shots. Joan worked until she was 70 as an RN.

Along with Joan’s parents, brothers, twin sister and youngest daughter Marianne L. Parks, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Edward Parks in 2016 whom she shared 59 years of marriage before Paul’s passing. Joan is survived by her children Jean A. Parks, Paul F. Parks, Robert E. Parks, and Elisia A. (Parks) Baumann & Scott A. Baumann; 4 grandchildren Christie Parks, Lauren Baumann, Danielle (Baumann) O’Neal & Jonathan O’Neal and Paul A. Parks.

Paul and Joan Parks were both born and grew up in Ohio before marriage in 1957 at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Canton, Ohio. Their first three children were born in Ohio, and then they moved following Paul’s Steel Company career to Texas where they had their fourth child. More career moves to Pennsylvania and Illinois which is where they had their fifth child. In 1986 Paul and Joan moved one last time together to Diamond Bar, California. They lived in Diamond Bar for 30 years and were parishioners of St. Denis in Diamond Bar, California. After Joan’s husband Paul passed, Joan moved to La Mesa, Ca to live with her daughter Elisia/Lee and son in law Scott Baumann. Joan enjoyed the La Mesa Senior Center, attending sit & be fit, and music classes. Joan also enjoyed the sunshine walking at Lake Murray and Coronado Island. Everyone enjoyed Joan!

Joan will have a Christian interment on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 1pm at Oakdale Memorial Park Mortuary in Glendora, California. Joan will be laid to rest, in the beautiful park, along with her husband Paul, youngest daughter Marianne and several friends. ♡ God bless all their beautiful souls ♡