Joanne Kane

passed away on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton Washington. She was born on November 18, 1936 and was 76 years of age."Joy of Life" was Joanne's motto.Growing up in a family of 9, she learned about interpersonal relations at a very early age. These experiences and her education at Ursuline College prepared her for a career as a primary school teacher. It was here that she met her future husband, Michael, also a teacher. The teaching would also be good training for raising her own 5 children.During the children's school years, Joanne operated "Mom's Taxi," volunteered with the PTO and chaperoned school events. When her children moved to upper grades, Joanne returned to work in customer service at a local bank. One assignment put her in the student loan department, very apt as her children reached college-age.When not working, the joys of gardening, reading, listening to classical music, and, of course, cooking, kept her busy. She even made time to start jogging and to play defensive back on a women's soccer team.Michael's job relocations presented a different challenge for Joanne. The 10 moves in the 52 years of their marriage allowed for new decorating opportunities which kept transitions smooth for the entire family.Travel was always in Joanne's blood, so the moves were viewed as an adventure, not as a burden. Recreational travel got her to all 50 states and much of Europe. Michael and Joanne's foreign travel started in 1990 when their children paid for an all-expenses trip to Ireland.A chance encounter with a ferry boat while on a business trip to Seattle in 2005 brought Michael and Joanne to Bainbridge Island. When Michael retired in 2006, they looked for a home on the island. They moved to Bainbridge in 2007. The town had everything: walking distance to downtown shopping and restaurants, access to Seattle (Nordstrom's and more restaurants), and St. Cecilia's parish.With her love of gardening, Joanne was a strong believer in environmental causes. She belonged to the Sierra Club and supported the Nature Conservancy. Conscientious about daily prayers (often offered during her walks), she was especially loyal to St. Mary, the Holy Spirit, and St. Jude.The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and all the staff at the Harrison Medical Center for making Joanne's final days peaceful. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 6 to 8 PM at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Bainbridge Island Washington. The Mass of Christian burial will take place on Tuesday, December 4th at 10 AM at St. Cecilia. A reception will follow from 11 to 1 PM at the church, followed by graveside services at 2 PM.Please sign the online Guest Book for the family.