Joan A. Favre, 58

Joan A. Favre, 58, passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2005, at her home in Kalispell, after a courageous seven-year-long battle with ovarian cancer.

Joan was born in Queens, N.Y., on Sept. 28, 1946, to George G. and Joy P. (Hegenauer) Brittingham. She was the third of five children.

She was an avid horsewoman and owned, raised and trained her beloved Appaloosa horses in California, Washington and Montana. Joan's children grew up playing and working with the horses most of their lives which became a bond that kept them together. Joan missed her horses when she could no longer have them with her.

While living in Kingston, Wash., Joan worked for Security Pacific Bank as a project manager in their purchasing department, a job which she enjoyed. Joan was a Kingston Fire Department Volunteer Firefighter/EMT for 12 years, running the weekend shift and giving any other help that was needed. She also taught first aid through EMT.

The family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to Dr. William Boehme and his entire staff for their care and treatment of Joan during her illness and also to the volunteers and staff of Hospice, especially Lori Mitchell, for their gentle and compassionate care during Joan's last days.

Joan and Fred Gibson, her long-time companion in Montana, enjoyed taking trips together looking for "old iron" and fixing and painting the old iron back to its original condition.

Joan also enjoyed planting flowers and vegetables.

Joan was preceded by her father, George Brittingham, in 1998.

Joan is survived by her companion, Fred Gibson; daughters, Cheryl and Tom Johnson, and Christel Favre, of Kalispell; four grandchildren, Alex and Gabriella Johnson, and Jordyn and Sumya Favre; her mother, Joy Brittingham; two brothers, George F. Brittingham and Marje, and Tom Brittingham; two sisters, Pat and Lou Torres, and Laurie Lennox; and other extended family members and her many friends and acquaintances in Kalispell.

Memorial services for Joan A. Favre will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with a reception to follow at St. Matthew's Fellowship Hall.

The family suggests memorials be given in her name to Hospice, Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Ste. 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Joan's family.