Joan "Joanie" D. Johnston

Joan D. “Joanie” Johnston passed peacefully with her family by her side at her home, Settlers Cove in D’Iberville, MS on February 19th, 2013. Joanie was born in Chalmette Louisiana on June 7, 1931. The younger of two daughters she grew up on a tomato farm where hard work and determination was taught early on. On October 20, 1951 she married the love of her life Edwin P. “Eddie” Johnston Jr. They were blessed with four beautiful children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Joan and Eddie came to Biloxi in 1961 after he accepted the position as construction superintendent of the expanding Broadwater Beach Hotel. Eddie built Joan her dream home located in West Biloxi in Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Joanie knew she found her home and for the next 44 years she devoted herself to Fatima and her family. She held every position and office, from PTO president, Home room mother, Parish Council, Peace Committee, and countless others. She donated thousands of hours to the expanding Fatima Parish. Her and a very hard working group of parishioners worked tirelessly to build the new church that is there today. Their dedication and hard work attributes to one of the largest Parishes on the Gulf Coast. Joanie’s spirit will always be in Fatima. No matter the obstacles she had to face she fought with dignity and grace. She always spoke kindly to others and gave thanks for anything and everything she was given. Her strength through the past couple of years was awe inspiring and those who were blessed to know her and care for her will carry that for the rest of their lives. Joan is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Edwin P. Johnston Jr.; her parents, Leonie and James Doize; her beloved brother in law Alex “NuNu” Ruiz. Joan leaves behind the loves of her life, her family: Edwin Preston Johnston III and wife Nancy of Houston, Texas, Cynthia A. Ladnier and husband Bob, of Ocean Springs, James Johnston and wife Alicia of Cumming, Georgia, Leonie Johnston and husband Bobby Simmons of D’Iberville; grandchildren: Edwin P. Johnston IV, A’lice Ladnier, Robert J. Ladnier, Jami Johnston, J.T. Johnston, Alexandra Johnston, Bobby Simmons and Hilliary Simmons; great grandchildren, Alyssa Johnston & Edwin P. Johnston V; loving Sister, A’lice “Nannie” Ruiz of Ocean Springs; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews who loved Joanie, and and her longtime friends of almost 50 years – Maryse Westman & Peggy Parker. Words cannot begin to express our deep appreciation to Erica James and her staff at Settler’s Cove in Biloxi for their wonderful and loving care given to Joanie to the very end. Special thanks to Dorothy Dunning of SAAD’s Home Health and Hospice who cared for Joanie for the last 2 ½ years of her life; nurses Gloria, Yolanda and Jennifer. Special Thanks to Jason Moody and the wonderful caring staff of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi. Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi. A Celebration of Life dinner will be held at Villa Maria Apartments in Ocean Springs immediately following services. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to Our Lady of Fatima St. Vincent DePaul, 2090 Jim Money Road, Biloxi, MS 39531.