Joan Reta rarely did anything she didn’t want to do, but last week marked a rare exception as she succumbed to a year-long battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully on October 13, at the age of 73.
Born September 18, 1948, to parents Phoebe and Leonard Hill, Joan joined older sisters Barbara and Janet. She was raised in Sacramento, where she met her husband, Michael, while attending American River College. The two married in 1972 and moved to Monterey where they raised their two children, Andrew and Melinda.
Joan worked for the State of California for more than 30 years before her retirement in 2008, and retirement suited her well. She volunteered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, doted on her six grandchildren whenever she could, cheered on her beloved San Francisco Giants, read voraciously, and laughed often.
Joan is survived by her husband of 49 years, Michael; her son Andrew Reta and daughter Melinda Walker (Russel); her six grandchildren: Colin, Jack, Hadley, Logan, Connor, and Avery; her sister, Barbara; her nieces Jennifer, Elizabeth, Maria, Alison and nephew Russell and many cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be held at The Paul Mortuary Monday, October 25 from 3-6 PM, with memorial services at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey on Tuesday, October 26 at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joan’s name to SPCA of Monterey County, PO Box 3058, Monterey, CA, 93942.
