JOANNE MARIE THURAU, born San Francisco CA, March 27, 1955, passed in Phoenix AZ, August 25, 2020. Loving daughter of Raymond and Helen Whelan and raised in Burlingame CA. Joanne graduated from Mercy High School in Burlingame in 1973 where she was elected Senior Class President and was one of the first members of the tennis team. She graduated from San Jose State University with a business degree in 1977, and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Southern California. Joanne’s business career spanned many years as she worked in various managerial capacities for both PG&E and the Hewlett Packard Company. Joanne was always an avid sportswoman who, in addition to her love for tennis, spent time skiing at the Lake Tahoe area and was an accomplished sailboarder. She had great artistic talent and her loving care showed in the many paintings and drawings she created throughout her life. In 1989, Joanne married John P. Thurau of Santa Clara CA, whom she had first known in grammar school at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame. Joanne was mother to two magnificent sons, John Paul and Mark, and after the family moved to Phoenix in 2000, she continued to give of herself and her education by homeschooling her sons through their sophomore years of high school, and as a guiding influence as a sports mom through youth and high school baseball for them both. Joanne was a deeply devout Roman Catholic and her devotion to the Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Traditional Latin Mass were ingrained in her life. Her unwavering strength was a profound bulwark to those around her as she never relinquished her commitment to family, through the graduations of her sons from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula CA, and in the lives of those close to her. In all, Joanne’s greatest legacy was the gift she gave of herself to virtually every person she encountered through every day of her life, exemplified in an extraordinary warmth of personality, kindness and concern. Joanne is survived by her husband John and their sons, John Paul and Mark, daughter-in-law Gabriela, and grandchildren Genevieve, Jack, and Joseph. Another granddaughter, Magdalena, is due to be born in November 2020. Another grandson, Francis Raymond Guadalupe Thurau, twin brother of Joseph, was baptized and entered into eternity shortly following birth. Joanne is blessed and survived by her brothers Dan Whelan and Jim Whelan, both of San Mateo CA, sisters Mary Patricia Whelan-Miille of Davis CA and Aileen Whelan of Burlingame, and by many cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews and dear friends. Joanne is preceded in death by her parents and by her brother Michael Whelan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the Holy Rosary at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road in Phoenix. Funeral Mass at Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church, 1537 W. Monroe, Phoenix, Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery, Phoenix. Donations to Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula CA and Mater Misericordiae Catholic Church, Phoenix AZ.
Aileen Whelan
Dear sister
I will miss her forever.
With all my love,
Aileen
Mary Langlois
My God Bless you all and give you strength. Our prayers are with Joanne and all of your family. Love to you all!
Patrick Martin
John,
I am so sorry for your loss! It’s been many years since we have crossed paths but know that I have always appreciated you both!
You have my sincere prayers for Joanne, and for you and your family.
Your cousin,
Pat
Jacob VanDeKerk
It was an honor having your son, Mark, in my Senior class of 2014 at Arcadia. I am so sorry to hear this, may your life be better. I hope all is well with your son.
Steve Pavlovich
John,
I’m so sorry to hear about Joanne. Lea and I are praying for you, John Paul, and Mark in this difficult time. Steve & Lea
Susan Marquez
How truly blessed I was to know Joanne and that we shared the joy of being grandmothers together. Her love and care of our little ones was so special. Thank you Joanne for all you did. May you rest in peace with Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. ❤️
Jeff Baker
John,
Very sorry to hear the news regarding Joanne. It has been a very long time since we have seen each other. I am praying for you and your family during this time.
Jeff
Joseph and Betty Mundattuchundayil
Dear Thurau Family,
So sorry to hear of the passing of Joanne. Please know that we are keeping her soul in prayer; we are also keeping all of you in our prayers, asking God to grant you comfort and consolation…..
Rest In Peace…..
Regards,
The Mundattuchundayil Family
Mary Clare Archer
Joanne was so loving and welcoming to all of Gabriela’s friends. We all loved her.
Janet Brown
Dear Dan, Jim, Mary Patricia, and Aileen,
I love you all and wish I could be with you for Joanne’s services. Take good care of each other and give lots of hugs. I’m thinking of you all and remembering the happy times growing up together as cousins. You are all in my thoughts and prayers and I wish peace and love during this difficult time.
All my love,
Janet
Sharon Martin
Sending love and support to all my Whelan cousins and the Thurau family. Joanne is now an angel in heaven.
Love,
Sharon and Jack Martin
Ramona C. Murray de Prieto
Hello family
Although we have never met, I had the good fortune of being at Mercy High with Joanne. She was the President of our class and I was the vice president. Oh the fun and exciting escapades we undertook. Such a sweet memory. She was a light that helped many find their way. How lucky we are to have another angel watching over us. My thoughts and prayers are with you on your life’s journey. Blessings. Ramona Murray (Prieto)
Melanie Maxwell Fuller
May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her
Melanie Maxwell Fuller
Joannes’s OLA classmate