Joan Rita Barnwell

Passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family on October 1, 2008. Joan's beloved husband of nearly 61 years, Barney, precede her in 2005. She made her home in El Segundo for the past 42 years.

Joan was born on July 16, 1923 in Denver, Colorado. She studied journalism at the University of Denver and enjoyed a short stint as a writer before meeting the young Second Lieutenant Marion P. 'Barney' Barnwell in January, 1945. They married on May 1st of that year and their loved affair never ended.

She is survived by 10 of her 11 children; Betty Holstead, Rosemary Tremblay, Jay Barnwell and his wife Nancy, Bob Barnwell and his wife Susan, Joni Atkins and her husband Bob, Mary Lu Stenson and her husband Mark, Paul Barnwell, Brian Barnwell (RIP, 1979), Greg Barnwell and his wife Lynn, Gene Barnwell and his wife Georgi, and David Barnwell and his wife Cindy. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Besides her devotion to her husband and children, her life's work in the Catholic church was the establishment of Eucharistic Home Shrines (EHS). EHS was consecrated in October, 1958 and now has over 3000 home shrines on all seven continents.

Thanks for loving us and praying for us, Mom. You will be deeply missed as Mom, grandma, and great-grandma. You will always be in our hearts and may you rest in peace in God's loving arms.

The family requests that donations be made to Eucharistic Home Shrines at www.eucharistichomeshrines.org