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Light a Candle
Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandma aka Noni, and Great Grandma aka GG Our Sweet Noni was born in Denver, Colorado and was raised an only child by her parents Louise Utter and Dean Boggs. It was when she was in her 70s that she learned via the internet she actually had two older brothers on her biological dad’s side and she was so excited when she met them! Joan met the love of her life, George, at the young age of 14, but initially he two didn’t began a romance. It was when George was sent to the Naval Air Corp, the two realized they were meant to be together and they began a long distance relationship complete with many many handwritten letters back and forth! They were UCLA college sweethearts and were joined at the hip the remainder of their lives together! They got married October 21st, 1950 in Beverly Hills and got their first apartment in Los Angeles where they would welcome their first child, Jeff in 1952. The settled in Newport Beach prior to Gary’s arrival in 1954. Until her last breath, Joan adored her sons and the families they had created. She was most proud of her granddaughters Alana, Leah and Riley and treasured her new great granddaughters Kelia and Charlie! Joan loved participating in Junior League, Balboa Yacht Club Mother’s Club and other local organizations. As Jeff and Gary grew up Noni followed their passions, attending track meets, water polo and swim contests all the way to their USC Fraternity Mother’s Club events. When boys started their families both ‘Noni and Pops’ embraced their growing family, and the various sporting and social events that filled their schedule. Noni never wanted to miss anything and was always there for everything! After retirement the two split time between homes in Palm Desert and Newport Beach where the whole family enjoyed many years of desert and beach time as the kids and grandkids grew up. They also enjoyed travelling and took their kids and grandkids many places where we all made the best memories! Their last years were spent in Newport watching the grandkids grow up, get married, and have children of their own. Popsie went to be with the Lord in 2017, and Noni carried on as best she could without him. We know she was determined to meet her great granddaughters as nothing made her happier in her last days and we are so grateful she did! Our Noni loved and accepted everyone and her huge heart, positive attitude, and unbelievable sense of humor made her a friend to everyone she met. She was truly one of a kind and the absolute best wife, friend, mother, grandmother and great grandma one could ever wish for. Noni’s faith and wisdom were an inspiration to anyone who knew her, she was a teacher of life and her guidance and lessons will be with all of us forever. She embraced all of her 94 years and left us all thankful and blessed to have known her and had her in our lives. Joan is survived by her sons Jeff (Maureen) and Gary (Karen), her grandkids Alana (Cory), Leah (Kyle) and Riley, and her great granddaughters Kelia and Charlie as well so many dear friends who became family to her! Thank you all for being a part of her life and memories.
