April 1940 – June 2021
We are very sad to share the news that our mother Gwenda Lou Joachim, age 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Turlock, CA on June 9, 2021.
Gwenda was born on April 30, 1940 in Paris, Texas to mother Mabel Hutson and father Bill Hutson. She moved to San Francisco when she was 4 years old with her mother. She went to Balboa High School but left to get married to Albert in 1955 in Yakim, Washington. They returned to the Bay area briefly and soon after they moved to Livermore where they started a family, adopting a son Michael Ray Joachim. Sadly, he died at the age of 5 months old. Shortly after they purchased the family home in 1962. Two years later they adopted their son Gerold (Jerry) Lee Joachim and three years later they adopted their daughter Joanne (Jody) Marie Joachim. At one point mom and dad returned to night school (Livermore High School) to receive their high school diplomas.
Gwen was a homemaker and when we were at school she worked several jobs outside the home to bring in extra income. She cleaned for several families, churches, and commercial businesses. She was also a caretaker. She cared for numerous family members who were at the last stages of their lives. Throughout her life she loved children and the elderly.
Mom was always the first one up in the morning, getting my dad ready for work and us for school, and waiting on us until it was bedtime. She was always involved in our schoolwork and every extracurricular activity we were involved in. She even coached Jody’s soccer team. She loved us unconditionally from the time she adopted us to her last days. We couldn’t have had a better mom to take care of us.
In 1976 she joined Trinity Baptist Church where she accepted Christ and became involved in the Bus Ministry, Children’s Worship, Sunday School and sang in the choir. From that moment on she continued serving the Lord until the day she passed. She cherished her relationship with her Savior Jesus Christ.
Gwen loved shopping, gardening, home decorating, sunbathing, traveling to Monterey and Tahoe, and spending time with family. She truly adored her husband of 65 years, Albert, and her children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren meant the world to her.
She is survived by her son Gerold Joachim (wife Krista); daughter Joanne Nadeau; grandchildren Brittany, Brooklyn and Bailey Joachim, James Meredith, Melissa and Patrick (Jr.) Nadeau, and Jordan Silva; and great grandchildren Hallie, Aurora and Weston Meredith. She was preceded in death by mother Mable Tilly, father Bill Hutson, son Michael Ray Joachim, and sisters Francis Marr and Betty Eakin.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 4-7:00pm and Funeral service will be on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 10:00am, both at Allen Mortuary. Burial will follow on Monday, June 21, 2021 at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California at 10:00am.
Please share your memories below.
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Lisa Tatola Joachim says
June 17, 2021 at 3:21 amAll our love and prayers from the San Mateo Joachims. Your loving smile and welcoming hugs will be missed. Thank you for being a shining example of a wife, mother and friend. You have been a blessing to us and your legacy will continue to twinkle forever… love always!
BETTY MAXWELL says
June 16, 2021 at 6:02 amMy sweet neighbor and dear friend, Gwen, was a very special person. From the day that she and Al met my Tom and our dog, Penny, at McDonald’s, we became friends..Not long after, Al and Gwen moved into our complex and it was the beginning of a great friendship. I don’t believe I know of another couple who reflected God’s love for us all, like they did, and Al will continue to do so. She is going to be greatly missed by us all and we will continue to give Al and his family, all the love we can . Rest in peace and with God, my friend.