August 14, 1928 – September 29, 2020

Glaude, Joan Adele (nee Pelletier), Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at the age of 92, fortified with the Holy Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church, joined her adoring husband, the late Ralph Glaude of Champlain, NY, her late sister Anita DeWitt, and her late parents, Adelaide and Louis Pelletier, in the presence of her Savior. She is survived by her sisters, Lorraine Pancella and Dolores Illig.

Loving mother to Mark (Linda) Glaude, Dr. Katherine (Donald Bolte) Glaude-Bolte, Nanette (Jeff) Coleman, and Martin (Dr. Tara Flynn) Glaude.

Devoted grandmother to Charis (Josh) Voss, Jason (Lovern) Glaude, Sarah, Rebecca (Nicholas James), and Andrew Bolte, Livviya (Brendan) Boyle, Daniel, Michaela, Emmett, and Gabriel Coleman, Casey, Jolene, Silas, Claire, John, and Henry Glaude.

Cherished great grandmother to William, Elizabeth, and James Voss, Tesla Bolte, and Justin Glaude.

Joan met the love of her life, Ralph, at a USO dance at Scott Air Force Base. They discovered many shared values, and when he was posted in England, she took a slow boat across the ocean to marry him and begin their life together. Joan supported Ralph’s pursuit of a pharmacy degree. They were a team for more than 30 years, exemplifying family values, hard work, and mutual respect. Family was so important to them that when they were discussing early on the possibility of starting a small business of their own, they ultimately decided against it because they did not want to sacrifice time with their family. They wanted to have vacations and day trips with the family. They wanted to do puzzles with the family, play scrabble with the family, watch TV with the family, walk to Dairy Queen with the family. And that’s what they did. They encouraged their children to participate on teams, in scouts, in plays. They offered opportunities to their children to learn music, to travel, to find their passions, and to serve others.

Ralph and Joan raised four different independent individuals, modeling and encouraging service to others. The oldest son, Mark, served in the U.S. Army. One of the daughters, Katherine, volunteered at a day camp for people with intellectual and emotional issues, visited nursing homes- sometimes with an accordion, rescues animals, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Another daughter, Nanette, went on medical mission trips to Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Guatemala, became a nurse, and raised 5 children. Another son, Marty, promotes many of the same values with his six children, one of whom has special needs. Helping others has become part of the psyche of all the family members, each one finding unique ways to positively contribute to the world. This is in large part because of Ralph and Joan.

Their interest in other people’s stories and cultures was contagious and inviting. One of Katherine’s first playmates was the child of a Chinese exchange student Ralph met at work. Years later, Ralph and Joan hosted an exchange student from Japan. More recently, Joan helped sponsor refugee families from Bosnia and Angola. Joan always had a map or atlas and countless reference books handy so that she could learn as much as she can. Joan was a life-long learner.

Joan was also a beloved aunt, great aunt, wonderful friend, neighbor, church leader/lector, discussion club member.

She made friends wherever she was, including St. Aloysius grade school, St. Alphonsus Liguori (Rock Church) high school, St. Joan of Arc parish, Our Lady of Life apartments, Cure of Ars parish, Sheridan at Laumeier Park, and Pacific Care Center. The family is immensely grateful to all of her outstanding caregivers, especially Javier Parada.

Joan had many varied interests. She enjoyed chocolate because after all, dark chocolate and mocha frappes comprise their own food group. She liked card games and puzzles, including her children in pinochle tournaments and dining room table jigsaw puzzles. She shared her joy of visiting casinos with her late sister, Anita, and her son-in-law, Don. Tiramisu was her favorite dessert, but she rarely said no to any pastry. Stamps, and the history and geography they represented, fascinated her. She was endlessly entertained by feeding and watching the great variety of birds that visited her gardens and porches. Joan nurtured a garden which yielded fruits and vegetables that enhanced her already inventive and delicious repertoire of dishes in the kitchen. She spent many hours listening to opera. She and Ralph shared their love of travel with their children on yearly adventures. A highlight of her life as a devout Catholic was to travel to Rome and see the Pope!

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, when Joan was a teenager, she worked at Kenrick Seminary, where she befriended a Japanese family sponsored there during World War 2. Her story was chronicled in the St. Louis Review here:

http://www.archstl.org/fond-memories-of-kenrick-seminary-from-a-summer-job-5059/fbclid/iwar3pdnlpsvoeuoyvaaz2ovlnwwp6gkuq9bodb6jrbaworowot7ma_jbmw4o

A gifted stenographer and secretary, Joan worked at the Religious Information Bureau (St. Louis Archdiocese), Sverdrup & Parcel, University of Missouri, and some small businesses.

Her daughter, Katherine (Kateri), wrote a book which includes even more stories about Joan. (Never Mind: Letters I Will Never Send, vol. 2 (Dear Mom), by Kateri.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521824150?tag=sa-b2c-new-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Doctors without Borders.

In keeping with her characteristic generosity, Joan donated her body to science (St. Louis University School of Medicine). Condolences can be sent to kgbgreen@gmail.com

Visitation will be at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church (5800 Oleatha at Hampton), Saturday, October 24, 2020, 10:00 am followed by Memorial Mass at 12 noon.