Joanne Suzette Duquette, age 56, died February 12, 2015 at Whidbey General Hospital. She was born in Napa, California to Wilfred B “Skip” and Virginia “Ginny” Duquette. At one month of age, she moved with her parents to New Jersey while dad attended school. She remained in New Jersey for a time, while Skip was transferred to Germany.
Joanne and Ginny soon followed Skip, taking a summer cruise aboard the USS Berlin. Skip met the boat with a very large Teddy bear. Joanne was never a child to crawl, but scooted everywhere. While in Germany, her sister was born. Joanne loved music and loved dancing with her dad.

The family traveled to Switzerland to visit relatives and then moved to Turkey for their next duty station, where her second sister was born. They returned to Germany, finally completing their third tour. Joanne loved her friends in Germany and picked up some of the German language.
Eventually the family returned to the states and was stationed in Maryland. It had become apparent that Joanne had developmental issues and Bethesda Naval hospital diagnosed her with Special Needs. The Duquette’s spent two tours in Napa, two in Maryland and one in Iceland before moving to Whidbey in 1977.

Joanne became a student in a special needs program in Stanwood for several years and in 1983, Joanne was paired with Service Alternatives. She began her career as a window washer at Wal-Mart and then moved to Family bible Church, where she served as a custodian for the next 15 years. She was forced to retire due to her failing health. She loved living independently for many years, but her health issues sent her to Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville. She was very pleased with the care that Careage provided her.

Joanne was able to take several trips with her friends from Service Alternatives. She visited Disneyland, Disney World, took two trips to Hawaii and a Disney Cruise. She loved shopping, bowling, participating in Special Olympics, learning to ride the transit, music, jewelry and painting her nails. She also loved raising parakeets.

Joanne is survived by her mother Virginia P. “Ginny” Duquette of Oak Harbor and by two sisters Bernadette “Bernie” Duquette of Renton, WA and Virginia E. “Ginny” Gannon of Newcastle, WA. Private family graveside services will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville, WA. A Celebration of Life will be held at Wallin Funeral Home at 3:00pm Saturday, February 28, 2015.

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