Madison - Joan D. O'Neill, age 89, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born on April 1, 1933, the daughter of Reginald and Dorothy (Volk) Barnes.

Joan graduated from Greenwood High School in 1951 and from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Marshfield, Wis., in 1954 as a Registered Nurse. She was united in marriage to Edward B. O'Neill on Aug. 7, 1956.

Joan moved from Greenwood, Wis., to Madison in 1954, where she began her first nursing job at Quisling Clinic in Pediatrics. After marrying Edward, a U.S. Air Force Career Master Sargent, in 1956, Joan started a nursing position at Truax Field Air Force Base. Following her time at Truax, she completed the remaining 23 years of her nursing practice at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Geriatrics. She was compassionate, always helping others, and lived her life to make a difference in the lives of so many. Her spirit was filled with selflessness and love for others, which will forever be remembered.

Joan was kind-hearted, as sweet as can be, and loved everyone around her. The simplest pleasures in life brought her the greatest joy. She enjoyed knitting, baking, and spending time with family. There was never a visit where you weren’t greeted with a big hug and platter of cookies. Joan was an amazing mother and “Nana” to her grandchildren. She cherished the holidays that brought her family together and never took one for granted. Joan brought out the good in everyone and lit up a room with her smile. She was an aspirational woman and her love reached so many.

Joan will be dearly missed by her daughters, Mary (Randy) Zink and Eileen (Ray Cooley) O'Neill Estes; grandchildren, Ryan (Sarah) Zink, Mallory Zink, Danielle (Brady Potterton) Zink, Nolan Estes, Katya Estes and Cameron Estes; great-grandchildren, Logan Zink, Brayden Zink and Colin Zink; and sister, Kathleen Landini; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends who she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward; sister, Marian (Irvin) Hoesly; and brother-in-law, Ralph Landini.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Dennis Catholic Church, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday July 1, 2022, with Father Randy Timmerman presiding. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Joan D. O'Neill

April 01, 1933 - June 26, 2022

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