Joan Sylvia Schouten

Joan Sylvia Schouten, 87, of Hemet, California, entered eternal life on December 25, 2024. She was born on June 22, 1937, in Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of nine children born to Grace and Joseph Twohig.

Joan spent much of her childhood in Massachusetts, and she loved sharing stories about growing up in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston. She often reminisced about her three-story home and how she’d carry coal to the heater to keep the house warm in winter. One of her fondest memories was climbing the 294 steps of the Bunker Hill Monument with her siblings. Joan enjoyed participating in a patriotic parade, decorating baby strollers for a doll parade to commemorate the first battle of the American Revolution. She and her sisters often played "kick the can" and enjoyed playing with their paper dolls. Joan also loved walking with her siblings and friends to the local store to buy a bottle of tonic and a candy bar. At the age of 13, Joan moved to California, where she would live the rest of her life.

Joan attended Washington Junior High and Bellflower High School, where her favorite subjects were English and Math. She excelled in sports, particularly basketball and softball, earning her Girl’s Athletic Association (GAA) patch. A member of ASB, she spent her free time sewing, cooking, and going to the movies. Shortly after graduating in 1955, Joan met the love of her life, Cornelius Schouten, at a Catholic youth party in Redondo Beach, California. The two were married in Bellflower in May of 1956. The wedding, with an estimated 100 guests, featured pink and blue as the colors of the day.

In March 1957, the couple welcomed their first child, Joan Marie. Two years later, Grace Elizabeth was born. The family then moved to Escondido, where Cornelius Thomas III and Joseph Anthony joined the family. In 1962, they entered into their first dairy partnership in Torrance, California, and the following year, Dennis James was born. In Santa Ana, they started their second dairy, “Dairymaid Dairy,” where Thomas Paul and Mark Anthony were born. The family’s final move was to San Jacinto in 1970, where they began their third dairy, “Schouten Brothers Dairy.” This is where Christine Ann, Keith Allen, and Jennifer Lynn were born, completing their family. Joan often reflected on how blessed she was to have the family she always dreamed of, writing in one of her journals, “I got my wish with 10 beautiful children.”

Joan loved being a mother and homemaker. One of her favorite memories was preparing dinner and having all her children gathered around the table. She would lead the family in prayer before they enjoyed their meal, along with lively and entertaining conversations. When she wasn’t in the kitchen, Joan was busy taking her children to school and cheering them on at extracurricular activities. She was known for her incredible baking skills, and her baked goods were always the first to sell at school fundraisers. She also loved knitting, reading romance novels, and completing word puzzles.

As a grandmother, Joan started a tradition that became beloved by all. She kept a "candy drawer" in her refrigerator, where everyone was guaranteed a full-sized candy bar when leaving after a visit or dinner. If you weren’t home, there was always the “gum purse,” where you could grab a piece of gum from her oversized handbag.

Joan and Cor shared a beautiful love story for 62 years until Cor’s passing. Joan was fortunate to continue to watch her family grow for five more years. Their unconditional love and deep gratitude for their blessings were an example to all. As of today, Joan and Cor’s legacy includes 10 children, 29 grandchildren, and 45 great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers are Cor Schouten, Joe Schouten , Dennis Schouten , Tom Schouten and Mark Schouten .