Joan Pauline Josephson died Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 in her home in Bellingham.

She was born Oct. 2, 1953 at Harpole Maternity Home in Coupeville and joined four siblings. From the time she was eight until she was 21, she lived at the Buckley State School and then went to live in Bellingham, initially as part of the Illahee Group Home and later living independently with the help of the Access Living Program. She was a hard worker, being dependable on the job and always followed through to completion on whatever she did.

Joan loved to meet people and remembered people’s names and their birthdates for years afterwards. She loved and had a wonderful way with animals, loved her family and enjoyed spending time with all of them.

The family wants to give special thanks to the staff at Access Living for all the love, care and training over 34 years, helping Joan live as independently as possible.

She was preceded in death by her big brother Norm and is survived by her dad and mom, Harry and Nora Josephson; Noreen (Jim) Forck, Roxann (Rich) Cannistra, Jan Josephson; brother Dale (Melissa) Josephson; aunts and uncles Leon and Ardella Josephson, Stenword and Eunice Bjorndal, and Romona Bjorndal; lots of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Donations can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church’s Endowment Fund, PO Box 97, Freeland, or The Arc of Whatcom County (Advocating for the Rights of Citizens with developmental disabilities), 2602 McLeod Road, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Arrangements are being handled through Visser Funeral Home and there will be a memorial service in early January at Trinity Lutheran Church.