On Holy Saturday, April 4th, 2026, Joan Marie Dunn, 85, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away in her home of 42 years.

Joan Wagner was born on May 21, 1940, in New York City and grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey with her parents Henry and Gertrude and older sister Margaret. After graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1961 she started her lifelong career in nursing, most of it as an ER nurse, a calling that fit Joan like a glove.

While vacationing in Hawaii in 1963 she met the love of her life, James Dunn Jr., an Air Force Airman stationed in Honolulu, whom she married on January 18th, 1964. From their beginnings in Honolulu, where their daughter Kathleen was born, they moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1967, where their son James III was born, and by the end of the year relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Joan worked in the ER at Baton Rouge General Hospital. Joan and her family spent their years in Baton Rouge creating fond memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime and then made one last move to Washington State in 1976, finally settling in Vancouver in 1977 when Joan accepted a position in the Bess Kaiser ER in Portland. Joan continued to work in a Kaiser Permanente ER till her retirement in 2006.

Most people knew Joan was a Seattle Seahawks fan which included, in her retirement years, time as a season ticket holder. Seahawks themed gifts were a regular gift for her kids, grandkids, and great grandson. But her first sports love was baseball. She grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, as were most of the families in her Teaneck, N.J. neighborhood, and eventually became a die-hard Seattle Mariners fan, rarely missing a game during her retirement years.

What brought the most joy to Joan was her family and her faith. She was a wonderful Wife, a loving Mom, joyful Oma, cherished Sister, caring Aunt and thoughtful friend who will be deeply missed by all. Rarely did a birthday or special occasion pass without a gift, card or call from Joan. Though not raised Catholic, Joan became Catholic in 1968 and embraced her faith and the call to serve others through both corporal and spiritual works. Her corporal works were easily recognizable as they included her work every day as a nurse but could also be seen by her active membership in all of her parishes, which included St. George in Baton Rouge and, in Vancouver, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. James and Holy Redeemer. At Holy Redeemer, she had participated in ministries since its creation, beginning as a liturgical minister in 2000 and eventually included Hospitality, Funeral, Empty Nesters, as well as folding bulletins and alter server laundry. Joan's spiritual works, though not as recognizable, were more abundant as she was always there to lend a hand to hold or an ear to listen. Her concern for the well-being of family and friends knew no bounds. She also knew the power of prayer, becoming a devout reciter of the Rosary before Mass, asking for intersessions for both herself and, more importantly, for others.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Dunn; her children, Kathleen Holmes (Chris) and James; her grandchildren, Stephanie Bourns (Austin), Rax Organa (Matt), Alex Miller, Cameron Dunn and Nathan Dunn; her great-grandson, Hudson Bourns; and her sister, Margaret. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 17010 NE 9th Street, Vancouver, Washington. A Rosary will precede the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. and a reception will follow in the church hall at 12 p.m. Burial service will be at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Ave, Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating time, talent, or treasure to your church or local community organization, or, as Joan would often do, simply enjoy time with a friend, old or new, over a cup of coffee or lunch.