Joanne Marie Burress

A Celebration of Life is planned for Joanne on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 @ 11:00 at Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, 6900 Destiny Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677. Casual dress. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Placer SPCA (placerspca.org).

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JOANNE MARIE BURRESS

Sadly, Joanne passed away peacefully on September 1, 2021 at her home in Granite Bay, CA. She was my wife and best friend.

Joanne grew up in Southern California and graduated from Duarte High School. She later moved to Sacramento to further her education at CSUS where she graduated and earned her Teaching Credential to pursue her career as an elementary school teacher. Joanne loved teaching the 4th grade. Later in life, she left teaching to go into Real Estate. She worked for Mac Bride Realty, Bohannon Realtors, and Western National Realtors. From there, she started her own bookkeeping business, as well as doing the property management for her family's portfolio. However, her real passion was volunteering in the community.

Through the Sacramento Board of Realtors, she was an active participant in many activities like the Christmas Cantree, KVIE Auction, Cerebral Palsy Walk, Operation Santa Claus, Project Voter Registration, and Project Bluebird for the Blood Bank. She would earn special recognition for her involvement and was given the "Citizen of the Year" award.

Her favorite volunteer work was with animals – all kinds. Joanne spent 4 decades volunteering for the SPCA for both Sacramento and Placer counties. Over the years she participated in Love On Loan, Mount Olivette Care Center, book drive chairman, as well as Treasurer and President. In recent years, you could find her helping with adoptions, working in the SPCA thrift store, fostering animals, and exercising the dogs.

She enjoyed outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, running, or any activity with a dog. She also enjoyed travelling. There were many family trips to Tahoe, Hawaii, Monterey, and Pacific Grove. Yes, the family dog was always invited along.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents Gloria and James Gehring. She is survived by her devoted husband of 40 years Craig C. Burress, son Craig S. Burress of Roseville, and daughters Erin Hom (Randall) of Sacramento and Coleen Graber (William) of Roseville, her brother Don Gehring of San Diego, her sister Marianne Harmon of San Diego, along with her grandchildren, nephew and niece.

She will forever remain in our hearts and be remembered for her warm sense of humor, kind heartedness, and positive attitude.

She is deeply missed and deeply loved by her family and extended family, many friends, clubs, and the SPCA family….and many, many dogs.

We want to especially thank the 5 nurses that gave time and love to Joanne during the last 4 months she was home.

The Celebration of Life will be held 09/25/21 @ 11:00 at Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, 6900 Destiny Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677. Casual dress. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Placer SPCA (placerspca.org).