Joan Maria Deily, 89

Joan “Jo” Deily passed away peacefully at her home on Flathead Lake on Oct. 5, 2023. She was born on July 3, 1934, to Mary and Hugh Sowden in Anaheim, California. She graduated from Capistrano High School. She met and married Raymond Deily in 1957; they had three daughters and a son while living in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1967, Ray and Jo packed up and moved their family to Kalispell, where they snow skied all winter, and water skied, camped and hiked through the summer months. They met like-minded families through their beloved Church, Saint Matthew’s Parish in Kalispell and maintained those friendships throughout the years.

Joan worked for over 23 years for various telephone companies, retiring from Centurytel in 1992. Along the way, she earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration from East Oregon State College. In 2006, Joan published the book “Alone on the Sea” chronicling the sailing circumnavigations by her brother, Jack. Joan loved to travel and covered most of the globe with her husband. After Ray passed away in 2007, Jo continued to travel with friends, family and travel groups.

Joan was a caregiver, providing loving care and companionship for many friends and family members over the years. She was a social person who loved to be surrounded by people. Making friends was easy for Jo and entertaining them was something that she truly enjoyed. She was actively involved in her community, including the Women of Rollins Club and several bridge groups. She volunteered at the West Shore Community Library in Lakeside and served on the board of United Way. Joan was a voracious reader and knitter, giving her famous cable knit afghans to many family, friends and community organizations.

Joan had a rough start in life, losing her mother when she and her twin sister were 2 years old. Rather than dwelling on her early hardship, she vowed to celebrate life and the love that poured out of her throughout her days brightened the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know her. She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Laurie Jean Rodriguez, and all four of her siblings. She will be remembered by her three children, Mike Deily in Albany, Oregon, Julie Gould in Meridian, Idaho and Jamie Allwine in Olympia, Washington, along with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as many friends throughout the world.

There will be a funeral mass for Joan at Saint Matthew’s Catholic Parish in Kalispell, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon and celebration of Jo’s Life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local Hospice chapter or Saint Matthew’s Catholic Parish.