Joan Bourgeois

Joan Bourgeois (pronounced Jo Ann), 85, peacefully passed away on May 6, 2023 in Milwaukee, WI. Joan was born in Milwaukee on May 24, 1937, daughter of Ernest and Estelle (nee Cote) Bourgeois and was raised in South Milwaukee. She graduated from Saint Catherine's High School in 1956. Joan went on to become a Racine Dominican Sister, attended Dominican College where she received her Bachelor of Education, and taught 2nd grade for many years. Although Joan never gave up her strong Catholic beliefs, she did leave the convent and the classroom to pursue a career in art therapy and further her education to help abused children. Joan was very artistic and creative, had a great sense of humor, loved her nieces and their families immensely, and was fiercely independent. She enjoyed collecting natural resources such as feathers, fossils, and shells, then combined them with repurposed items to create art pieces. She also enjoyed her fun assortment of hats (especially the red ones) and used her creativeness to make costumes for the holidays to amuse her neighbors. She will always be remembered for her kind and giving nature, as no one was a stranger to her. Joan is survived by niece Jodie (Kevin) Jarvis and their children Samantha and Zachary; and niece Jackie (Greg) Kort and their children Nicholas and Max. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Dona Mae Bayerl. Respecting Joan's wishes, a small private funeral is planned. In lieu of flowers, please have additional masses said for Joan, parents Ernest and Estelle, and sister Dona Mae.