Joanne Louise Foley

A funeral service for Joanne will be held Tuesday, October 10, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Saint Mel Catholic Church, 20870 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.

Joanne Louise Foley (nee Geiman), age 93, of Woodland Hills, CA, passed away on September 14, 2023. She was born on April 21, 1930, in Los Angeles, CA. Joanne dedicated her life to her family and cherished her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Joanne had a passion for tennis, captaining several teams, and continued playing well into her 80s. Tennis, and the community, brought her joy, friendships, and kept her active. Joanne survived PolyCystic Kidney Disease with a kidney transplant at age 73, providing us an additional 20 years of life, love, and laughter.

Joanne attended Manual Arts High School and went on to earn her Masters of Education at California State University Northridge. She dedicated her career to education and served as a school teacher at Big Springs Elementary and Parkview Elementary in Simi Valley California from 1972 to 2002. During this time she participated in the NASA program, Teachers in Space.

In her youth, Joanne started at the age of 12 working alongside her mother at Van de Kamp’s bakery. She went on to work for the FBI with secret clearance under J. Edgar Hoover, with those stories remaining private. She actively participated in St Charles Borromeo Church young adults group, where she met and married Edward Foley. She enthusiastically supported her daughters' various activities, including swim team, leader of Campfire Girls, dance, music, volleyball, and skiing. Joanne had a vibrant social network and was involved in numerous endeavors throughout her life. Joanne worshipped at St Mel Catholic Church, and sang in the adult choir, where she found solace and community. In her retirement, starting at the age of 71, she became a docent for the LA Zoo and served as the vice-president of the local TRIO (transplant recipient int’l organization). Joanne was also an advocate for the Donate Life organization, including the annual decoration of the Rose Parade Float. Her energy and dedication were unmatched, and she will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Joanne is survived by her loving daughters, Kim Foley Sweeney (John), Kristen Foley Gemeny (Dan), and Keli Foley. She was a proud grandmother to Jennifer Sweeney Bowman (Darren), Bradford Sweeney (Christine), and Connor Sweeney. Joanne adored her great-grandchildren, Maverick, Scarlett, and Savanna Bowman. She also leaves behind her beloved granddog, Bronte and many nephews and nieces. Joanne was preceded in death by her mother, Josephine Moyers Geiman Harris, her father, Bernard Geiman, her stepfather, Robert Harris, and her former husband Edward Foley.

Funeral services for Joanne will be held at 2pm Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at St Mel Catholic Church, located at 20870 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. An offsite reception will immediately follow the Funeral Mass. Burial will take place on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, located at 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Joanne’s name to the African Wildlife Foundation and the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation, organizations that held significant meaning to Joanne. Memorial pages in Joanne's name have been setup on both websites: https://fundraise.awf.org/23505/us/159435/celebrating-joanne-foley

https://support.pkdcure.org/fundraiser/4976344

The Gates Kingsley Gates funeral home in Canoga Park, CA, is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.

Please join the family in honoring Joanne Louise Foley's remarkable life and legacy.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gateskingsleygates.com for the Foley family.