Joanne Kennedy Lande passed away on September 30, 2025 at the age of 90. She was born in Oakland, CA on August 4, 1935 to James and Catherine (O’Hara) Kennedy. After graduating Holy Names High School in Oakland she earned her undergraduate and Master of Education degrees at UC Berkeley. She then taught elementary school for the next 40 years, the majority at Camino Pablo School in Moraga, CA. While at UC Berkeley she met her husband Richard F. Lande. They settled and raised their 4 children in Orinda, CA. and were married until his death in 2006. Even after retiring Joanne continued to tutor school age children for many years. She often repeated the saying “You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but not the classroom out of the teacher.” She made use of every teachable moment whether as a teacher, mother, or grandmother.

Joanne was first and foremost a family person. As a child, the oldest of four, she enjoyed staying at home, but looked forward to visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all of whom lived nearby. Annual vacations to Russian River, and to Tahoe where V-J Day was announced, always seemed to include extended family. In later life she took interest in researching her family tree. she felt very connected to her Irish roots and absorbed all the stories her widowed grandmother, and great aunt loved to tell. From childhood to college she eagerly looked forward to the traditional St. Patrick’s Day dance at the Oakland Hotel or Remington Hotel. Friends were important too and she reconnected with some from Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Names High during and after the 50th high school reunion in 2003.

To say she was an active person is an understatement. Reading was a pleasure to her and a book was always at hand. In her working days, time to read had to be snatched whenever there was a free moment. But in retirement, she could indulge to her hearts content, or until she felt guilty from taking too much time from her endless TO DO list.
She was never too busy to be with children and grandchildren. She loved to putter in her garden after retiring while living in Orinda on an Oak tree filled property, raking leaves was never ending. Thrifting was her middle name. It showed in her insistence and composting everything possible. She loved bargain hunting, never throwing anything away believing she’d need it as soon as it was gone, or that it would come back in style. She’d use up the last scrap of food even if it was to feed her pets with it. Second hand stores became frequent destinations and she was so excited about her great bargains!

Dick and she were two peas in a pod when it came to nostalgia and saving bits of the past. It took her years to clean up or part with his things when he died.

Think positive was one of her mottos and always looked for the bright side of life. Though she was sad and disappointed when 2 of her daughters moved to other states, she appreciated the fact that gave her reasons to visit them and see Texas, Florida, Oregon, and Colorado.

Her catholic faith was very strong. She believed in “the power of prayer” and to “ let go and let God”. She spread the word to any who’d listen to pray to St. Anthony for lost things and to St. Jude for lost or difficult causes. Daily mass became her goal when she retired and was a “given” after Dick died.

She spent her final years living between California, Oregon, and Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s society or make a donation to your local school teachers.

She is survived by her brothers James Kennedy III (Jeanne Kennedy) and Ed Kennedy, her four children, Jeanne Lande, Richard M. Lande, Jane Lande Nick and Terry Lande Dunkelberg (Todd Dunkelberg) and her grandchildren, Jennifer Lande, James Lande, Maddie Dunkelberg, Max Dunkelberg and Natalie Nick

Thanks Mom for everything, say hi to Dad and the rest of your family in Heaven. We love you. Rest in peace.