Joan M. Drolet

Joan M. Drolet, 94, of Arlington Heights was born December 6, 1926 in Chicago to Edwin and Anna (Thommes) Marshall and passed away September 5, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. Joan was the beloved wife of the late Richard G. “Dick” Drolet; loving mother of Dorothy (Douglas) Dirks, Richard (Anne) Drolet, Michele (Frank) Bedo, Renée (Michael) Mullaney, Patricia (Kevin) Bowens, Dennis (Susan) Drolet and Mary (Darryl) Zettle; cherished grandmother of Marshall (Jodi) Dirks, Jennifer Dirks, Matthew (Victoria) Dirks, Richard (Sara) Drolet, Kathryn (Michael) Davis, Lisa (Jason) Nawracaj, Frank (Rachel) Bedo, Brian (Sarah) Bedo, Kelley (Will) Lucas, Colleen (Tim) Lea, Megan (Jonathon) Pereiro, Dr. Joseph (Tana) Bowens, Anne (Matthew) Edwards, Stephen (Caitlin) Drolet, Katherine (Dave) Enzler, Lauren (Michael) Cullum, Colleen Drolet, Megan Drolet, Claire Zettle, and Kathryn Zettle; great-grandmother of Connor Dirks, Austin Dirks, Taylor Dirks, Cooper Dirks, Kendall Drolet, Grant Drolet, Maxwell Drolet, Benjamin Wade, Brady Wade, Brooklyn Wade, Cooper Davis, Crue Davis, Banks Davis, Landon Nawracaj, Carson Nawracaj, Ellison Nawracaj, Isaac Bedo, Maxwell Bedo, Grace Bedo, Ethan Bedo, Kennedy Lea, Noah Pereiro, Nathan Pereiro, Clara Pereiro, Katherine Edwards, Margaret Edwards, Jack Edwards, Emily Edwards, and Cameron Drolet; dear sister of the late Rosemary Badsing and Donn Marshall.

In addition to raising the Drolet family, Joan’s passion was music and her career spanned more than 80 years. She was an accomplished flutist, pianist, and vocalist and was a piano teacher for more than 60 years out of her home studio. She contributed to the music program at Our Lady of the Wayside serving as choir director, pianist, and organist, playing for masses, weddings and funerals over the past 60 years. Additionally, Joan was one of the founders of the Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association. Under her leadership, the Festival of Pianos held at Northbrook Mall was organized in 1993. Joan’s other volunteer activities included washing and mending clothes for the PHD Baby closet and playing piano duets to welcome visitors at Good Shepherd Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital. Most recently, she and her daughters performed a neighborhood duet recital from her home. In 2018, Joan was honored with the Arlington Heights Hearts Of Gold Award for her work both in the community and at Our Lady of the Wayside.

Visitation will be Friday, September 10, 2021 from 4-8 PM at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights. Prayers will be said on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 10:15 AM at the funeral home and proceed to Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell Avenue, Arlington Heights for a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery. In consideration of the safety of our guests and associates, Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home will ask that proper social distancing be practiced and all guests wear face masks at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Food Pantry, c/o Deacon Corcoran, Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 434 W. Park St., Arlington Hts., IL 60005 or to the Gloria Rebecca Scholarship Fund, c/o Our Lady of the Wayside.