Kathleen Joan Paris

Kathleen (Joan) Paris 98 years old, passed today at 12:22 p.m., 11/17/2023. Joan and her husband, Gust, were married for 72 years at the time of his passing in 2017. The daughter of Cedric and Kathleen Hopkins, Joan was born in Wicklow Ireland. Joan and Gust lived in Stoughton, Wisconsin, for 36 years. She has been a resident of Oceanside, California for the past thirty-five years. Joan and Gust moved into the Ocean Breeze Apartments in 1988. She was a key member of that community, organizing one activity after another, especially potluck suppers, card games, crafts, and bingo. She raised her three children in Stoughton, Wisconsin: Irene Stradtman of Oceanside, Nick (Cathy) Paris of Redmond, Washington, and Bob (Cheryl) Paris of Oceanside. Joan has six grandchildren: Noel (Keegan) Stradtman, Tisha (Willy) Bloom, Jon (Jane) Paris, Nichol (Fernando) Viton, Kristine Birmingham, and Susan (Richard) Martin. She also is blessed with 18 lovely great grandchildren. Joan is survived by her sister and two brothers: Hilda Clarke of Youghal, Ireland; John Hopkins of Wicklow, Ireland; and Cecil Alan (Vanessa) Hopkins of London, England.

Joan lived with her daughter, Irene, for the past several years. Through Irene’s great care and love, Joan’s life was extended for several years. For many years her son Bob has been her best friend, Bridge partner, and Bingo buddy. Son Nick made sure she got to travel and visit family in Ireland, England, Canada, and here and there in the USA.

Joan loved to play cards, from pinochle to bridge and anything in between. She loved to go out to dinner—Hometown Buffet was a favorite place when Gus was alive, but she was just as happy with a McDonald’s fish sandwich. Joan always had to be doing something: knitting for the grand kids, great-grands, and knitting hats for the premature babies at the hospital; making ornaments for the holidays and scrubbies and wash cloths which she sold at the senior centers and doctors’ offices, and to neighbors, friends, and family; reading books and doing crossword and jig saw puzzles.

Joan played tennis and field hockey at a boarding school in Dublin, Ireland. At age seventeen, she told her mother she wanted to do war work. In Belfast, she enlisted in the Royal Air Force. She was stationed at Henlow in England, where Hawker Hurricanes, planes built in Canada, were reassembled and deployed. She met Gust who was in the US Army Air Corps and stationed nearby. She came to America as a war bride.

When she lived in Stoughton, Joan donated her time and energy to helping with several community functions. She enjoyed gatherings with family and friends for barbeques and fish fries. Joan learned to drive in her thirties, always tense after driving lessons from Gust. She was a fast walker, and when driving, she was pretty fast too. For many years she worked as a clerk at the Stoughton lumber yard.

When Joan entered the room, she brought a sense of calmness. When sitting and knitting, she exuded love and tranquility. She gave 98 years of her life to this world, for which we are eternally grateful.

WE LOVE YOU JOAN PARIS