Obituary extracted from Dignity Memorial on Thursday, 15 September 2022.

Joan Kathleen Laflamme was born in Oak Park, Illinois on 11 September 1923, only daughter and second child of Arthur A. Greenhill and Kathleen Margaret nee Thompson). She grew up in Stratford, Connecticut, where her family had moved. She had with a love of family, church and friends. She met her husband, Arthur Robert LaFlamme in the Connecticut or Massachusetts.

Joan and Arthur married in Massachusetts and lived there until the chiuldren were born. Sometime later, in 1947 she moved with the family to California and settled in Long Beach with their four children.

Joan was always active with her children’s activities and at one time served as president of two PTA’s at the same time. She was a wonderful cook and could whip éclairs, creampuffs and Christmas treats to delight one and all. She had studied dress making and design and made her daughter’s dresses along with many of her own clothes. Joan led many family gatherings during the holidays and the annual Fourth of July family picnic usually held in early August each year.

She was a longtime member of the Lakewood Methodist Church where she was a member of the Priscilla Circle. Joan was an artist and drew her daughter’s paper dolls and designed their clothes. She drew beautiful watercolors, loved to read and visited her friends, the one arm bandits.

Above all, Joan loved to be with her family. She and Arthur traveled each summer in their motor home with one or two grandchildren, visiting historic sites, relatives and friends. Anyone who needed help came to her. She would help solve problems, give advice, and put groceries on their tables and Christmas gifts under their trees.

Joan passed away 2 January 2012. She was predeceased by Arthur. She is survived by her four children, Harold (Susan), Laurel (Edward), Pamela and Valerie; four grandchildren, Kane Barber (Robyn), Lacey Kruger (Luke), Alex and Ginger Laflamme; and great-granddaughter, Bergan Kruger. The funeral services was held on Friday, 6 January 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lakewood, 4300 Bellflower, Blvd., Lakewood, California 90713, United States of America.