Longtime Lemoore woman Joanne Hernandez passes away peacefully April 19

Lemoore's Joanne Hernandez passes away at the age of 80.
Lemoore's Joanne Hernandez passes away at the age of 80.

Longtime Lemoore resident Joanne Hernandez died peacefully following a short illness on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the age of 80. She was surrounded by her family when she passed away.

Hernandez was born Joanne Kay Grove to Edith and Cyrus Grove of Waterloo, Iowa on February 3, 1937.  She grew up and attended East High School in Waterloo and married Curtis Dean Greeley in 1957. 

As an army wife, Joanne cared for her adopted daughters, Mary and Kathy, and gave birth to Curtis in 1965, Troy in 1966, and Todd in 1970 as they traveled from Hawaii to California, then to Texas and back to California.

Following a divorce, Joanne and the kids settled in Lemoore in 1970.  Joanne worked for many years for Catalina Sportswear, driving an ice cream truck, and at night worked as a cocktail waitress. She ended her single-mom days when she married Santos Hernandez of Hanford in 1976, and his three children joined hers to form one big family.

Over the years, Joanne was also awarded custody of her adopted grandchildren, Maryanne and Michael Banaag, Jamila, and Tiffany and Joseph Curt Hernandez, following the death of her daughter, Mary, in 1990. 

Joanne was proud of her 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

In her “retirement” years, she continued to work hard at Subway and sewing for DA Designs up to her late 70s, as well as running her own business: “A Stitch in Time.”  

She enjoyed her dogs, collecting, scrapbooking, and all types of sewing and crochet pursuits -- a consummate artist. She was generous, but tough, loving but stern, and never said no to a friend in need. 

Independent to the end, she raised competent, confident women and self-aware and hard-working men.  Survivors include her children (and their families): Curt Greeley of Santa Maria; Troy and Todd Greeley of Las Vegas; Jamilia Hernandez Gragston of Santa Maria; Tiffany Hernandez Harris of Arizona; Joe Hernandez of Los Angeles; Michael Banaag of Seattle, and Maryanne Banaag. 

The family wants to thank the many great friends over the years in the various jobs, activities and communities to which she belonged. Special thanks go to her long-time friend and partner in crime, Carole Burrell, her roommate, Maura O’Rourke – who has helped her so much the last few years – and the Days family for dog-sitting help and their love over the years!  Services and reception will be held on Saturday, May 13th at the banquet room behind the Travelodge at 877 E. D St., in Lemoore from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

Hanford’s McNamara Whitehurst Funeral Home is helping with funeral arrangements.

Comments powered by Disqus