Joanne Dean Todd

January 3, 1937 - December 30, 2019

Obituary for Joanne Dean Todd Joanne “Joanie” Todd was born on January 3rd, 1937 in Oakland, CA. She passed away in her home on December 30, 2019 in Bakersfield, CA from natural causes complicated by Valley Fever. Joanie was born to parents Edward Dean II and Evelyn Stevenson Dean. At 2 months old, her mother passed away, leaving behind Joanie and her sister Carol Ann. Her movie business father remarried widow Ruth, who had a daughter named Jackie (Robert T. “Slim”). Together, they had two more children, Edward Dean III (Debbie) and Connie. Sadly, her father died when she 14. Ruth remarried and had 2 more children, Joygene and Louie Melman. Joanie was drawn to Christ and the Eucharist, which led to her Baptism into the Catholic Church in Hollywood. About a year after her father’s death, Joanie decided to run away from home and leave CA with her girlfriend. The two15 year-old girls hitchhiked to Chicago to live with her grandparents. At 17, Joanie decided to enter the Convent as a Franciscan novice. After 7 years as a nun, she left the Convent due to poor health and returned to CA to live with her sister Carol and her children Michael and Susan. There she met the love of her life and married Gerald “Jerry” Todd on January 30, 1960. Joanie dedicated her life to serving God and others. In 1960, she began her career in Education, which became her passion. She taught for 44 years, 18 of which she was Principal of St. John’s in Wasco, CA. She built a preschool and was nominated twice for the national Principal of the Year Award. She served as Vice Principal of St. Francis School from 2005-6. After retirement, Joanie continued her passion by tutoring students until Valley Fever no longer allowed her to teach. Joanie Todd is preceded in death by her parents, stepmother Ruth, sisters Carol and Connie, son-in-law Joey Garcia, Grandsons Lantz and Andrew. She is survived by her husband Jerry of 60 years and their 3 children Brian, Sean (Dee Dee), and Kelly (Scott). Her grandchildren, Morgan (Kevin), Gerald, Grayson (Emily), Tiffany, Shane, Joie, Madison, Kelly (Sydney), Blake, Taylor and Austin. She has two great grandchildren Emilia and Jensen Todd. “I am a blessed child of God!” “In Him I live and move, and have my being.”