Joan Ann Donlon, age 80, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1946 and formerly of New Jersey, passed away on Monday, March 5, 2012 in her home surrounded by her family. She was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.
Joan Flannigan was born on March 27, 1931 in Long Branch, New Jersey to the late Raymond and Louise (Burke) Flannigan. She married John Joseph Donlon on November 12, 1949 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Colorado Springs. Together they raised a family and Joan was an active candy striper and a frequent volunteer at Divine Redeemer School. She was a gifted artist who specialized in oil painting and was a talented seamstress who enjoyed crochet and needlepoint. She loved cultivating roses in her garden. She and her husband enjoyed camping, fishing, and spending time with their grandchildren. For years, she was very active in El Paso County’s Democratic Party. She will be best remembered for her beautiful smile.
Joan is survived by her two sons: Mark (Jo) Donlon of Colorado Springs; Brad (Lisa) Donlon of Brighton, Colorado; and her two daughters: Deborah (Jesse) Strong of Colorado Springs; and Lori (Randy) Slattery of Falcon, Colorado. Also surviving are her two sisters: Linda (Jeff) Rakowski of Atlanta, Georgia; and Sheila Clapper of Thornton, Colorado. She has twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband: former Colorado State Senator John Donlon on December 31, 2011; and a brother: Bill Stoddard.
A Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. A Holy Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial is planned for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, 927 North Logan Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909. A luncheon reception will follow the Mass at the church. Private entombment will then follow at the Shrine of Remembrance Chapel Mausoleum.
Memorials may be made to the Odyssey Hospice Foundation, 5526 North Academy Boulevard, Suite 108, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918, or the Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.
Blessed be her memory.