Joan Faughnan

Joan’s Arvada home was the center of Faughnan family life for 46 years, with four generations celebrating birthdays, Christmases, graduations and countless other events, large and small, there. Together with her husband Tom, to whom she was married for 68 years, she raised eight children and was an ever-present source of love and support to 21 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Although she never studied a parenting book, she was so naturally loving and kind that all those around her learned profound lessons: Be kind to all people and, whatever you choose to become in life, feel good about who are and know that you are loved.

Joan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 31, 1931, the oldest daughter of Irish immigrants, Elizabeth and James Byrnes. She grew up in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood in an apartment over a bakery, sharing one bedroom with her four younger sisters until she married in 1954. In 1969, she moved with her family to Washington, New Jersey. She managed a chaotic house full of kids each morning, ensuring each child had breakfast ready, lunches packed, and homework complete, all the while singing verses of “rise and shine and give God your glory!” In 1976, she moved with her husband and children to Arvada, Colorado.

At 40, she obtained a driver license for the first time. She was a mainstay at kids’ “art” galleries, football games, school plays, wrestling matches, and anything that mattered to her children. As her children went off to college for pursuits in engineering, nursing, telecommunications, biological science, business, and medicine, she went to work at Ridge Home, a Colorado state facility for intellectually disabled people. She brought her radiating compassion and patience with her to work each day. She took pride in her work of caring for those who often experienced neglect– fortifying those who struggled with the warmth of feeling loved. She was a member of the Irish Club, but most of her time was focused on providing a loving foundation for her family so they were well-equipped to face both the triumphs and heartaches in life.

She is survived by her children Tom (Maura) Faughnan, Diane (Kevin) Barnes; Lynn Lee, Ellen Sleevi (Steve Furtner), Maureen Stines, Michael (Gretchen)Faughnan, Kerri (Douglas) Hecox; daughter-in-law Cathy Faughnan (Dave Green); her beloved grandchildren: Connor, Brendan, Ryan, Faith, Megan, Christopher, Ciara, Mike, Brigid, Kaelin, Rudy, Kyle, Erin, Siena, Juliet, Liam, Ava, Will, Sean, Finn, and Nora; and precious great grandchildren: Connor, Cullin, Claire, Hudson, Eloise, Lila, and Olivia.

Memorial donations can be made in Joan's name to the Christopher Faughnan Memorial Scholarship Fund with Jeffco Schools Foundation (https://www.jeffcoschoolsfoundation.org/faughnanscholarship).

A memorial service for Joan will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cem, 7777 West 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.