Joan Catherine Donnelly's Obituary
Joan Catherine Donnelly
November 24, 1930 – October 16, 2024
Joan Donnelly passed away peacefully at her home in Escondido on October 16, 2024. She was 93 years old.
Joan was born on November 24, 1930 in New York City during the Great Depression. Her cradle was a dresser drawer. Her French father, Louis, was the assistant banquet manager at the Carlyle Hotel, and her Irish mother, Angela, was a registered nurse. Her sister, Marie Wysocki, was born in 1937. After growing out of her high school years as a bobby soxer, Joan was encouraged to attend the Grace Downs Modeling School, and she went on to have a storied modeling career. She modeled at fashion shows for John-Frederics, Christian Dior, Bonnie Cashin, Charles James, Rose Marie Reid, Sophie Gimbel of Saks Fifth Avenue, and Hattie Carnegie. Her favorite designers to work with were Elizabeth Arden and Arnold Scaasi. She appeared in TV and print ads, Vogue Magazine, and even Howard Hughes requested a screen test in Hollywood (she declined). She also worked as a fashion coordinator, a medical secretary, and volunteered at the Red Cross.
Joan loved New York with all her being, but when the winters became hard on her aging parents, the family moved to San Diego in 1965. Joan continued modeling for Saks Fifth Avenue and Buffums while managing dress shops, designing window displays, and beauty consulting for Charles of the Ritz. She retired when marrying Robert Donnelly, a former Navy officer, in 1979. Years after his passing, she came out of retirement and worked as a beauty consultant for Avon.
A devoted Benedictine oblate and published poet, Joan also loved singing, swimming, gardening, sewing, flower arranging, traveling, meditation, yoga, and her 5 fluffy cat companions over the decades. Her optimistic attitude, creativity, spirituality, affection, and bubbly laughter will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her nephews David and Jonathan and her brother-and-law Neal. Funeral services will be held at Good Shephard Catholic Church in San Diego on November 8th at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Arthritis Foundation
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