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Hood Mortuary - Durango

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Durango, Colorado

JoAnne Roethlein Obituary

JoAnne Roethlein, 87 years old and a resident of Durango, peacefully made her transition on December 25 at Mercy Hospice House surrounded by her family.

JoAnne, also known as "Billie Anne", was born in Hollywood, California and had a full and interesting life. She had a wry sense of humor and a keen eye for a great hat. She raised two children of whom she was very proud and always rooted for the "underdog". She made friends wherever she went and frequently opened her home and her table to people and animals without family or in need of a kind-hearted woman. She loved baking for her neighbors and her favorite parties involved lots of desserts.

Throughout her life she worked as a secretary for many years and she led children's theaters and choirs, was a published poet, organized Senior Olympics and was the Director of the Oracle (Arizona) Historical Society, a position she loved.

JoAnne was a graduate of Beverly Hills High school and lived in Baltimore, MD; southern and northern California; Tucson and in Payson, AZ for nearly 10 years before making Durango her home in early 2018. She loved a good adventure and traveled throughout Europe, to the Marshall Islands, Romania, Guyana, Canada and the Caribbean and once traveled through the West on a motorcycle. For her 80th birthday she rode in a bi-plane over Sedona and she drove a 5-speed manual transmission Mustang until she was 85. An accomplished pianist and "Fabrege-style" egg artist, she loved the ocean and was a real lady with her own style whose family loved her deeply.

JoAnne's remains will be scattered at a later date in the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by, at her request, Frank Sinatra singing "My Way". JoAnne is survived by her children and their families, Laurie Meininger of Durango and John and Lorian Roethlein of Payson, AZ; her grandchildren Jason and Deven Meininger and Kyle Roethlein, and her greatgrandchildren, Jordan and Travis Meininger as well as her sister Betty "Bunny" Drayer and her niece and nephew, Sharon Clark and Rick Drayer of California and their families.

She faced it all, she stood tall and did it her way.

Published by The Durango Herald on Dec. 27, 2018.
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2 Entries

I'd like to extend my condolences to the family and friends for the loss of your loved one JoAnne Roethlein, may the words at 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 soothe your hearts.

December 31, 2018

Laurie, we were sorry to hear of your loss. Hold onto The memories. They will comfort you. And time will give you peace. Carl and Tina Beal

December 28, 2018

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