Joan Lambert Hayes

Joan Audrey Hayes, 92, of Los Osos, California, went to be with the Lord on March 9, 2026, in Sacramento, California. She was a loving wife, mother of two, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of eight.

Joan was born Joan Audrey Lambert on September 17, 1933, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. She grew up with her parents, James and Barbara Lambert, and her younger sister, Carmen. After graduating from high school in 1951, she worked in the office at Kaiser Steel Mill. The family later relocated to Fontana, California, where she met Bill Hayes. On October 9, 1954, Bill and Joan were married.

The couple made their home in Antioch, California, where they raised two children: their daughter, Penny, born in 1957, and their son, James, born in 1959. In 1971, the family moved to the charming town of Los Osos, California. Bill and Joan loved their community and instilled a strong sense of pride and responsibility in their children. As a family, they volunteered for ten years with Insight Unlimited, Inc. (IUI), an organization that helped blind youth in San Luis Obispo engage in sports and other activities. The couple also made many contributions to Shriners Children’s Hospital and were founding members of Saint Benedict’s Episcopal Church in Los Osos, where they faithfully attended services until 2021, when they relocated to Woodlake Senior Living in Sacramento, California.

For over forty years, Joan was affectionately known as “Grammy” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Taught to knit by her grandmother, she developed this skill and lovingly made beautiful clothing for her family. She also had a remarkable talent for bowling and played regularly for many years.

Joan was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990s, yet she faced her treatment with such grace and dignity that her grandchildren never saw her as ill. She survived and remained cancer-free for the rest of her life.

After retiring, Bill and Joan embarked on an adventurous journey, exploring the continental United States in their fifth-wheel trailer. During these travels, Joan discovered a passion for preserving her family legacy. She devoted countless hours to researching and documenting her family’s genealogy—a monumental task that reflected the same dedication and love she showed throughout her life.

Joan was preceded in death by her daughter, Penny Weber; her son, James Hayes; and her grandson, Joseph Weber. She is survived by her husband, Bill Hayes; granddaughters Christy Hayes, Angela Walker, Erin Teves, and Sarah with; grandson James Hayes; and their children.

The memorial for Joan will be held at St. Benedict’s Church at 2220 Snowy Egret Lane, Los Osos on Wednesday April 8, 10:30am