••• Joanna “Joanie” Hatheway ….

•••

Joanna “Joanie” Hatheway

1935-2026 Joanna Lee “Jonie” Hatheway passed away peacefully at her home in Leisure World, Seal Beach, California, in July 2026. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1935.

Jonie was preceded in death by her beloved husband Carl; her parents, Clarence and Evelyn; her stepmother, Olinda and her sister, Georgann.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, 22 greatgrandchildren, one great-greatgrandchild, many beloved nieces, nephews, and her brother- in-law.

At the age of 12, Jonie’s family moved from Wisconsin to Colorado. Years later, while working at the telephone company, she met Carl. They married and eventually the family settled in California, where they had many happy years. Through the years Jonie taught Sunday school and Missionettes, worked in the school cafeteria, drove a school bus, worked at JCPenney’s cosmetic department and beauty salon, was a bank teller, opened and managed a GNC store, and eventually returned to the telephone company, where she retired.

What Jonie loved most was raising her five children and supporting her husband throughout his many music adventures, including the founding of Velvetones at LW.

Jonie loved LW and all the friends she made through the years. She enjoyed the garden club, golf cart club, Taco Tuesday, coffee and cookies with friends before the gym. Jonie loved walking, and walking Sophie through her neighborhood was the highlight of every day as she enjoyed visiting with old friends, making new friends and visiting her special friends “under the umbrella.”

After Carl’s passing, she discovered a new hobby she absolutely loved: collecting clothes, household essentials and food for people in need.

The only thing Jonie loved more than her family was her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was her very best friend and at the center of everything she did. She cherished her time at LW Assembly of God Church, enjoying the worship, Pastor Chuck Franco’s teaching and fellowship with friends over meals together.

Those who knew Jonie will remember her as sweet, kind, loving, thoughtful, hardworking and determined to the very end. She leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories, a legacy of faith, a heart of compassion, and a love that will continue to live on in all who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, neighbors, and the LW community she loved so dearly.

Jonie’s children warmly invite all who knew and loved her to join them for her Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. in Clubhouse 4, Leisure World Seal Beach, 1419 Northwood Road, Seal Beach, CA 90740. —Paid obituary