Joanne Kathryn Jeska

Joanne Kathryn Jeska (Wright) of Coppell, Texas passed away on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2024 at age 66. She was born on 12 January 1958 in Annapolis, Maryland to Willie and Marian Wright. She grew up in Norfolk, Virginia before moving to Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Meadowbrook High School in May 1976 as Platoon Leader of the Monarettes drill team, chosen for the National Honor Society, and member of the Judicial Board, the Tri Hi-Y service club, and the Math Club.

Joanne graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in May 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics where she was the Secretary for the Pi Mu Epsilon national mathematics honor society and member of the Statistics Club. A fan of the fighting Hokies, we attended many games and bowl games rooting them on to victory.

Joanne met her husband, Jim Jeska, at a Catholic singles dance in downtown Dallas a week before Christmas 1994. They had noticed each other earlier, but it was not until later that evening they found themselves standing next to each other. Jim was totally tongue-tied, so Joanne said “Hi.” Jim blurted out “Wanna dance?” and the rest, as they say, is history. They became engaged on Valentine’s Day 1995 and were married at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Lewisville, TX, on 16 September 1995. They welcomed the addition of their son, Mark Edward, on 1 December 1996.

Joanne loved her family with all her heart. She supported Mark in many ways by walking in the 100 degree heat of a July 4th parade while he was in pre-school, helping out at Town Center Elementary School, chaperoning more band trips than she could count from middle school through high school, attending and cheering him on in every soccer, basketball, football, cross country meet and ultimate frisbee match, and especially in helping guide him to obtain the Boy Scout Eagle Scout.

For husband Jim, Joanne showed him the world with our many travels. She was there for him with her love carrying him through many of life’s trials – the deaths of his grandmother in 1995, his father in 1999, his mother in 2015, and a job change in 2010. Joanne even gave him time off so he could attend his coin club meetings and shows.

For her extended family, Joanne was always ready and willing to reach out to help her siblings, nieces, and nephews with her talents and treasurers. She is especially proud to have been asked to be her nephew John’s son Jacob’s godmother.

Joanne’s love extended beyond her family to her Stonemeade neighbors serving on the HOA board, bringing food for Block Parties and Easter Egg hunts, enjoying getting together to play Bunco and Canasta (with a glass of wine, of course!), and being a friend to all.

Joanne loved to travel so as a family, we enjoyed many travels – numerous trips to Richmond, VA, to visit Grandma Wright and Denton, TX, to visit Grandma Jeska; many cruises in Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii. The favorite cruise was of the Baltic where Joanne and her mom, Marian, took a separate excursion to meet their Finnish relatives and see the house where her grandmother was born. Other family vacations took us to Grand Teton / Yellowstone, Yosemite, San Diego, San Franciso, Philadelphia / New York City, Miami, Myrtle Beach, Disney World, and Virginia Beach among many others. Jim often referred to Joanne as his “travel agent.” She knew the places to go so Jim packed his bags and paid the bills later. Travel for work took her to China; Japan; Singapore; Bucharest, Romania; Finland; Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and Australia where in 2002 she was able to enjoy her birthday with the warm sun and beaches of Sydney.

We became members of the St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell, TX, in 1996. Joanne was soon involved volunteering as a religious education teacher. In 2010, she participated in the Christ Renews His Parish (CHRP) women’s receiving weekend to reignite her faith. Six months later, she and her CHRP Sisters were the givers to the next group of women. This led her to become an Ecumenical Minister of Holy Communion. She continued to enrich her faith with her Sisters in Christ family and by participating in bible studies.

In addition to family, traveling, and religious activities, Joanne loved to read (especially John Grisham novels), tend to her flower garden, and work on her arts and crafts projects.

Joanne began her career working for Texas Instruments Geophysical Services Inc. (GSI 1980-1987) in Houston, TX, before moving to Dallas. With GSI, she met many wonderful lifelong friends. She continued working for Texas Instruments Defense Systems and Electronics Group / Raytheon Defense (DSG 1987-1999) as product and software development managers for multiple military defense missile programs including JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon), JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), and the Javelin anti-tank missile. After the Raytheon acquisition and decision to move the work to Tucson, AZ, she started work with Hewlett Packard Systems (2000-2015) as a Solution Architect / Manager developing a wireless prepay solution, a customized location E-911 software solution, and the VzNavigator Location architecture application. She was offered an early retirement package which she accepted and retired in 2015.

Just as Joanne was retiring from Raytheon in January 2015, she was diagnosed with Stage 1A breast cancer. A February lumpectomy removed the tumor. All that was now expected was a week of radiation, however, her lifesaver Dr. Aurora performed an additional blood test that showed she had cancer elsewhere in her body. After many procedures and scans, Stage 3A lung cancer was found. The cancer was inoperable as it had spread to the lymph nodes. This led to six weeks of chemo and six weeks of radiation starting in June. Joanne responded well and the cancer seemed to go into remission. A spot in 2016 and 2019 required a few days radiation. On the Ides of March 2020, Joanne had what she thought was a heart attack but instead was a seizure. An MRI revealed she had three large 30-to-40-millimeter tumors in her brain. Full head radiation was used to treat them as surgery again was not an option. This full head radiation did its work to shrink the tumors, however, it was indiscriminate and impacted her cognitive skills and physical strength leading to many falls which is what ultimately led to her passing.

Joanne is survived by her loving husband of 29 years Jim and son Mark of Lakewood, CO, as well as brother Bill Wright (Linda) of Chesapeake, VA; sister Mary Bird (Larry) of Savannah, TN; brother John (Ginny); sister Shirly Herring of Savannah, TN; and brother Warren Wright (Betty) of North Chesterfield, VA; many loved nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and godson Jacob Bird; and her long-haired dachshund mix dog Macey.

Joanne is preceded in death by her father Willie Fulton Wright and mother Marian Elaine Wright (Hill).

The visitation and rosary are scheduled for 7:00 PM, Monday, 27 January, at Rolling Oaks funeral home, 400 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, TX 75019. The funeral mass will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, 28 January, at St. Ann Catholic Parish, 180 Samuel Blvd, Coppell, TX 75019. A reception will follow with burial at Rolling Oaks later that day.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the St. Ann Catholic Parish Transcend Campaign https://www.transcend.stannparish.org/ or a charity of your choice.