Joanne Rose's Obituary
Joanne Rose (49), of San Diego, CA, passed away on November 11, 2022 following a long battle with COVID-19, Pneumonia, and Acute Respiratory Failure.
Joanne was born the oldest of twin girls on November 27, 1972 in Honolulu, Hawaii. After moving to San Diego at age 6, Joanne was raised by her mother, Judith Eastman, along with her sister, Jeanne and brother, Aaron.
After graduating from Mission Bay High School in 1991, Joanne met her spouse, Roy Rose, at Sportsmen’s Seafood restaurant in Mission Bay. Roy and Joanne had 2 daughters, Rosalie and Lillian Rose. Joanne named all of her dolls Rosalie as a little girl, and always dreamt of being a mom. Joanne’s world revolved around her two daughters, and she raised them as a single mother, instilling her strength and resilience in their hearts. It was her love of children and motherhood that led her to pursue a career as a preschool teacher for 20 years at Blessed Sacrament Parish School, and a teacher—and eventually director— for 6 years at St. Andrews Day school in La Mesa. Joanne loved teaching and caring for young children, advocating for children with disabilities, and encouraging her staff to put their own families first. Joanne had an incredible gift of making those around her feel safe and welcome, whether it be her own daughters, their friends, students at her preschool, or even people she had just met.
Joanne left an imprint on every heart she held, from her 2-year-old students to her 61 year old boyfriend, Joe, whom she nursed back to health nearly single-handedly during his battle with cancer in 2020. Joanne’s warm smile and infectious laugh could turn even the angriest and coldest of hearts into a puddle. Joanne was nurturing, loving, supportive, empathetic, and incredibly resilient.
Joanne is survived by her daughters, Rosalie Rose and Lillian Rose; her mother, Judi Eastman; sister, Jeanne Diaz, brother, Aaron Hulsey, and the love of her life, Joe Heath, as well as all the children and families she loved and cared for during her tenure as an educator.
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