JoAnn Vear

In Loving Memory of JoAnn Vear, a native of Watsonville, passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 86.

JoAnn's start in life was unique in the way that she lost her father at an early age leaving her mother as a single parent with two daughters during the WWII era. Her mom was an active nurse out at Camp McQuade and eventually came to work at the office of Doctor Ehler Eiskamp. In her teen years, she lost her mom and was then taken in by the families of Doctor Ehler Eiskamp and lived with Doctor Frank and Marguarite Blaisdell (Eiskamp). She remained in their care until venturing out on her own.

Attending Mintie White, E.A. Hall, Watsonville High School, Monterey Peninsula College then off to San Francisco to start her young adult life rooming with girlfriends and taking on the hustle and bustle of working in the office environment in The City.

Once married she settled in Salinas, raising her two sons John & Bruce. Eventually moving to Southern California to start the next chapter and then back up to Santa Cruz County in the late 1970's where she started her real estate career.

JoAnn had countless dear friends throughout her life. Her "big three" from high school were Bev, Barbara & Judy, where the families remain close to this day.

She was always involved with something.... a variety of Women's Clubs, a passion for Ikebana, and years of service with Soroptimist International of Watsonville where she held many titles, the biggest being the Governor of the Sierra Pacific Region. She traveled the world with Soroptimist and loved every minute of it and all that the club had to offer.

Even with her busy career and other involvements, she always had time for her family and was the guiding love that held the family together.

Son, John, has many fond memories of his own adventures in San Francisco with his mom as she taught him how to love/respect/appreciate all the beauty the city had to offer and everything else in life for that matter...Music being one of them. His love for Jazz and Bossa Nova is from playing her records over and over as a kid. Her grandson Ben, had just began this past year to learn the art of Ikebana and has expressed he is honored to have been able to share those moments with his grandma.

JoAnn is survived by her only sister, beloved Margaret Vear, her eldest son John Duarte, her grandson Benjamin Duarte along with her daughter-in-law Reyna Duarte and extended family grandchildren Laura and Jesus. JoAnn is preceded in death by the recent loss of her youngest son Bruce Duarte (Reyna/Ben), and her parents, Constance (Connie Vear) Johnson and Arthur Francis Vear.

A private family ceremony will be held at Valley Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Soroptimists International of Watsonville. PO Box 442, Watsonville, CA 95077.

Published in The Pajaronian · May 7, 2025