Joan Theresa Newhouse Keating Sikon Phoenix – Joan Theresa Newhouse Keating Sikon would be the first to tell you she had a wonderful life. She was blessed as the wife of two meek men, a mother of nine children, a grandmother and great-grandmother, a lifelong Catholic, a nurse and college graduate, a friend and a world traveler. Joan, 90, died on June 23, 2021 at her home in Phoenix, AZ. She was born on April 15, 1931 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the middle child of Raymond Arthur and Helen Rose (McGough) Newhouse. At the hospital, Joan’s mother didn’t know what name to give her. The Sisters of Mercy suggested Joan and Theresa, “two good saints.” Joan knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse. Her resolve was strengthened when she visited her mother in the hospital after the birth of her sister Barbara. Johanna was 8 years old. During her senior year of high school, she worked with the Sisters of Charity to enroll in the Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing. She began a summer science course on the Monday after graduating from high school in 1949. She began nursing school in the fall of 1949 and graduated in May 1952. In December 1952, she became a licensed nurse in Pennsylvania. She met her first husband, Raymond Joseph Keating, in Pittsburgh just before graduating from nursing school. They were married on April 6, 1953 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Ray was on duty and Joan joined him in Germany in the fall of 1953. Her desire to travel was sparked when she traveled to Germany on the SS America. Ray, the youngest of three boys, wrote to Joan that he wanted a big family. They had nine children between 1954 and 1964. When you think about her, you may want to have a glass of wine. For many years she drank a medicinal glass of wine in the evening. As a mother of nine children, she certainly deserves it. The family moved to Phoenix in 1959 to be close to Ray’s father and because of the weather. They had five children at the time. Joan worked part-time at Saint Joseph Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. In 1966 she went to school again. She had nine children at the time and was taking daytime classes at Arizona State University while her children were in school. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1970. Upon graduation, she began working as a public health nurse in Maricopa County in 1970. In 1980 she went to Maricopa County Jail and worked there until Joan retired in 1992. In 1978 Joan was widowed. She continued to work full time as a public health nurse for Maricopa County. Joan also decided to fill her life with dancing and traveling. Her first big trip took her to China in 1989. Joan traveled with family, friends or alone. When she first started traveling, she always had a future trip planned – something to look forward to. Traveling showed Joan that international problems lie between governments. She always liked the people she met in the countries she visited, including Russia and China. She rode a camel in Australia and an elephant in Thailand. She has always taken the time to send postcards to her children and grandchildren, which creates excitement for receiving mail and introducing them to the world. Joan would have urged you to travel, and especially to visit Prague and Venice. Joan also loved ballroom dancing. There were weekly dances in senior centers across the valley and she often went after retirement. While dancing, she met her second husband Chester Sikon. They married on October 26, 2007. She was 76 and Chester 86. They danced and traveled while they were physically able. They grew old together lovingly. John’s Catholic faith was very important. She remembered her first holy communion and thought, “I will be a Catholic all my life.” The family initially lived in Maryvale in western Phoenix and were one of the founding families of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Joan moved to downtown Phoenix and became a member of the ward of St. Mary’s Basilica more than 30 years ago. She was a very active member of the Church, participated in the community health service, served as a lecturer at countless masses, and brought Holy Communion to the home-bound. Joan had a knack for making and keeping friends, including friends from high school, Pittsburgh Nursing School, and the ASU School of Nursing. She was a close friend of her Maryvale neighbor for over 60 years. She also enjoyed being the matriarch of her immediate and extended families, attending family gatherings and parties in Pennsylvania as often as possible. She was referred to by some as a “party aunt”. With such a large family and most of their children living in the valley, there were always many family celebrations. Joan and Chester were always happy to be there. The last family celebration was in late May for the 90th birthday of Joan and Chester’s upcoming 100th birthday. Family members who preceded her in death include her first husband, Raymond Joseph Keating, son David Keating, son-in-law Duane Thurber, and great-grandson Jedi Luke Minters. She leaves behind her husband Chester Sikon, children Janet (Barry) McNaughton, Kathy Thurber, Helen (Rex) Romesburg, Carol (Jerry) Minters, Karen (Carl) Boyd, Raymond (Donna) Keating, Beth Malleo and Michael Keating, 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 28, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by a rosary at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Basilica, 231 N. Third Street, Phoenix. Afterwards there will be a lunchtime reception in the church. Joan will be buried with a private ceremony in Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale, AZ on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Joan embraced giving her whole life to charity. She often noticed that she was very lucky and wanted to share her happiness. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation on their behalf to St. Mary’s Food Bank, 3003 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85017, or the St. Vincent de Paul Society, PO Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ, 85002 condolences can be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com. Published by The Arizona Republic from June 25 to June 27, 2021.
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