Joan L Phelan

Joan L Phelan

August 24, 1933 - September 17, 2023

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Obituary

MADISON - Joan Lee Phelan, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to so many, peacefully passed away on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, and is now reunited with her family in heaven. She was born during the Great Depression on Aug. 24, 1933, the daughter of Leon and Beatrice Lamoreux (Orvold).  At the age of 13, she moved with her parents to Lac du Flambeau, Wis., returning to Madison at the age of 17.  


Joan began working at Oscar Mayer in 1950 and enjoyed a long career in Accounts Receivable, retiring in 1999. She married Dennis Daniel Phelan on Jan. 24, 1953, and had four children, Jim, Tom, Diane and Dennis.


Joan was known for her kindness, unrelentless generosity as she never said no to a charity, and her deep faith. She loved music and was a member of the choir at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Madison for years.


Joan spent countless hours delving into genealogy, not only for the Lamoreux and Phelan families, but for anyone who asked. Joan knew family history like the back of her hand. If you sat and listened to her rattle off names, dates, and places, you could only leave the conversation in awe. Joan never slowed down. If she wasn’t taking a walk, tending to her flowers, or working on genealogy she was volunteering.


Joan is survived by her children, Jim (Denise) Phelan, Tom (Mary Becker) Phelan and Diane (Larry Raney); grandchildren, Kristin, Jessica, Ryan, Erika, Jeremy (Deanna) and Sara; great-grandchildren, Jewel, Olivia, Noah, Selena, Christina, Sean, Mitchell, Gabi and Liam; great-great-grandchildren, Iris, Lincoln, Boston and Crew; step-grandchildren, Brandin, Kim, and Jennifer; step great-grandchildren, Logan, Sammy, Kyleigh, Alexis, Miles and Lydia; and step great-great-grandchildren, Kendrick, Preston and Navaeh. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; son, Dennis; parents, Leon and Beatrice Lamoreux; and her brothers, Jim and Paul Lamoreux.


A funeral service will be held at Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation CARE, 5203 Monona Drive., Madison, at 12 noon on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, followed by a graveside service at Highland Memory Gardens, 3054 County Road BB, Madison. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service on Monday.


Cards and condolences may be sent in care of Diane Raney to Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.



Gunderson East

Funeral and Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(6080 221-5420


Events

25
Luncheon After Burial
Mon Sep 25, 2023 @ 12:00 AM CDT
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions
25
Visitation
Mon Sep 25, 2023 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions
25
Funeral Service
Mon Sep 25, 2023 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Get Directions
25
Graveside Service
Mon Sep 25, 2023 @ 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
Highland Memory Gardens • 3054 County Rd BB, Madison, WI 53718
Get Directions

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KP
Kristin Phelan
Other •
Grandma was an amazing person. I will forever cherish how you always tried to make sure Jessica and I had fun and learned something new when you babysat us. I'll be forever grateful for her letting me live with her and get to really know her. We'd chat for hours at her house or on our Sunday lunches after church. We went to countless musicals together and she even got me to join the church choir for a time. The way Grandma led her life has been what I strive for. She's nothing less than inspiring. I'm so glad to have known her. She's truly an angel.
GF
Gary Franzen
Other •
Joan's father Leon was my grandfather (in his first marriage to Vera Stenner). Joan reached out to me a few years ago regarding genealogy of the family and she enthusiastically shared quite a bit of astonishing information she had collected over the years. She was very happy to find a family member who shared her interest in collecting these materials and understanding our shared ancestry and history. I corresponded with her on multiple occasions during the pandemic and shared with her various photographs and other historical data and tried to answer questions as best I could. It was quite a blessing to know her as a correspondent and also someone who had direct recollection of my mom (Jane Lamoreux) who was her 1/2-sister. My wife Susana and I offer condolences to all the Lamoreux family members over this loss. -- Gary Franzen (Pittsburgh, PA)

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