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She was a 30-year member of the Mission Hills Country Club as an avid and competitive golfer and card player.

Joan Marie Emerson, born July 26, 1933, passed away peacefully and on her own terms on June 28, 2026. She joins her beloved husband of 72 years, Don, her mom and dad, Jennie and Angelo Paoli, her brothers, Tony, Dominic, and Jonus and her sister Marian in a state of grace.

Joan, pronounced Jo-anne, or Jo-annie if her mother was calling her, is survived by her three sons, Dennis, David and Douglas, her daughters-in-law, Carla, Dianne and Lynda, 6 grandchildren (Brian, Nicolle, Kevin, Dean, Katherine, and Drew) and six great grandchildren (Tim, Luke, Grace, Ashlynn, Will and Lucy).

Growing up in the small town of Frontenac in southeastern Kansas, Joan married her high school sweetheart Don at the age of 18 in 1951. They lived in San Diego while Don was in the Navy. They moved to Torrance in 1954, then to Palos Verdes in 1965 where they raised their three boys. In 1995, Don and Joan retired to Rancho Mirage where she was a 30-year member of the Mission Hills Country Club as an avid and competitive golfer and card player.

She lived a blessed life. She had a wonderful marriage. She traveled the world with Don including trips to Israel, all parts of Europe, many, many trips to Hawaii and throughout the US.

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She traveled the world with Don including trips to Israel, all parts of Europe, many, many trips to Hawaii and throughout the US.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and will be profoundly missed by her devoted family and countless friends.