Roseville, California—Joan Shaughnessy McMillen, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on November 27, 2021 after a long battle with cancer and Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). She was 80 years old. Joan was born in Ft. Lewis, Washington on June 27, 1941 to Thomas Edward and Neva Mae (Strong) Shaughnessy. At the age of 3, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Joan was part of the first graduating class of Highland High School in 1959. Shortly after graduating, Joan briefly attended the University of Utah and was involved with the Alpha Phi Sorority. On April 12, 1961, Joan married Dennis George McMillen (divorced in 2004). While busy raising four children in Concord and Moraga, CA, Joan returned to college and earned a Bachelors degree in Art History from University of California, Berkeley.
She enjoyed sewing, art, playing piano and singing in choirs, genealogy, her membership in Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, spending time with family (especially during birthdays and holidays), spoiling her grandchildren and watching Bay Area sports. Joan was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Joan will be dearly missed by her children Sherrill (Doug), Kristine (Todd), Eric, Shauna (Wade), ten grandchildren and three great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her twin baby boys David and Thomas, parents Tom and Neva, brother Mickey, and sister Karen.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary (3401 S. Highland Drive Millcreek, UT). Family and friends are invited to a viewing prior to the service from 12-1pm. Burial to follow the funeral service.
