Joanne Mary Crowley

She became a registered nurse after high school and aspired to have a career in medicine, but her life took a different path after she married and started a family. Raising nine children became her vocation and life’s calling, and she excelled at being a mother. She considered her children—all independent, productive adults and citizens—to be her greatest joys and accomplishments. She was also proud of earning a college degree in her late 40s while still raising children.

Joanne was born to the late Mary Jane Cook (née Whitehouse) and the late Bernard Francis Cook on July 30, 1932, in Elizabeth, NJ. She grew up in Point Pleasant, NJ, and graduated from Battin High School in 1950. Her main interests in high school were music—she played viola in the orchestra and clarinet in the band—and a budding romance with her future husband, David (Dave) Andrew Crowley of Elizabeth.

After graduating from high school, Joanne followed a cousin into nursing school. She didn’t know much about nursing at the time, but knew she wasn’t interested in being a teacher or secretary, other career paths open to women in that era. She earned her RN Degree at New Jersey Medical School in 1953 and took a full-time nursing position at Jersey City Hospital.

Joanne married Dave on November 21, 1953, a week after taking her nursing board exams. They met at age 14—Joanne invited Dave on their first date, a hayride, and broke a date with another young man so they could attend senior prom together. They became engaged in the parking lot of a White Castle restaurant and were married for 71 years, until Dave’s death in December 2024.

Their first child arrived around the first anniversary of their marriage, and Joanne left nursing, a reluctant decision at the time, to become a full-time mother. The family relocated to Van Nuys, CA, in 1960 for Dave’s work, driving across the country with four children. They relocated again to Rockford, IL, in 1964 to be closer to family, driving across the country again, this time with seven children, Joanne’s mother-in-law, and a parakeet, all in a nine-passenger station wagon. She had their last two children in Rockford.

Joanne did all the housework and child rearing, which was not uncommon for mothers of her generation, but which left little time to pursue other interests. But as her children got older, she started to reinvent herself: She became a master gardener because she loved putting her hands into soil and nurturing plants, especially roses. And she returned to college, graduating magna cum laude from Rockford College (now Rockford University) in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She took college classes part time for almost a decade, walking two miles to class when the family car was unavailable.

She also took a refresher course to resume her nursing career, but discovered the field had advanced beyond her training. Undeterred, she trained instead in medical administration and took a full-time administrative position in the busy cardiac unit at a large Rockford hospital. She worked there until retiring in 1997.

Joanne and Dave relocated to Jekyll Island, GA, in 2005, living an idyllic retirement amongst the maritime forests and pristine beaches for 18 years. She was an active member of the Jekyll Island Art Guild, where she taught stamping and weaving, and volunteered at the Jekyll Island Historic District and at the local Catholic Church. She also walked, biked, and swam to stay fit, and was a voracious reader, another lifelong passion. She was intellectually active until the end of her life.

Joanne had limited opportunities to travel while raising children, but she and Dave became world travelers during their retirement. They visited China, Europe, Russia, and South America, traveling well into their eighties, expanding their cultural horizons, and making many friends.

They relocated for a final time to The Neighborhood at Tellico Village, an assisted living facility in Loudon, TN, in 2023 because of Dave’s declining health. Joanne was his caregiver until his death and became ill herself after breaking a hip and later contracting COVID-19. She passed away peacefully with family by her side.

Joanne is survived by her nine children—Kevin Crowley (Falls Church, VA); Karen McMahon (Edward) (Loudon, TN); Kathleen McFadden (Tim) (Gleason, WI); Eileen Crowley (Kevin McDonald) (Novato, CA); Brian Crowley (Dawn) (Cle Elum, WA); Norita Sieffert (John) (Quinlan, TX); Megan Zimmerlee (Scott) (Rockford, IL); David Crowley (Johns Creek, GA); and Matthew Crowley (Kari) (San Jose, CA)—21 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, daughters-in-law Kay Crowley (David) and Maryellen Cameron (Kevin), and grandson Samuel McFadden.

The family invites Joanne and Dave’s friends to join them at a memorial mass at St. Williams Catholic Church on St. Simons Island, GA, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The mass starts at 11:00 am and will be followed by a luncheon. Joanne and Dave will be interred together at the church columbarium in a family-only ceremony.

Joanne’s children prepared this obituary as an expression of their deep affection and gratitude for a remarkable woman and mother. She will be greatly missed by her large family and many friends.

Eternal rest grant onto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.