JOAN D. DUTTON (nee FREEDLE (CATO))

Joan, 95, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2026. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Goldie and Edwin and baptized as a Lutheran. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school (Proviso) and a member of the National Honor Society. Shortly after graduation, she married and within six years was raising three children.

Later, as a single mother, she worked various jobs that kept her close to her children: ironing baskets of clothes, cleaning houses, and eventually working at the Fisher Pen Company in Forest Park, IL. In her early 90’s, she fondly recalled how Mr. Fisher, famous for the space pen, would sit next to her and other employees and explain how their job and work contributed to the end product.

In the mid 60’s, she moved her three children to the D.C. area where she worked for the American Institute of Research and then for several years with the Federal government. During her years in the D.C. area, she earned praise and accolades from her employers. Upon retiring, she volunteered for the blind and was especially happy to assist a blind couple for many years.

Joan was intelligent, talented, gentle, kind, and considerate and she had a deep unconditional love for all children, dogs, music (piano and organ), sewing, and baking. Her favorite books were biographical and cooking. For her grandchildren, she made personalized Christmas stockings, which have now been used for decades. A work of art and a student of the Palmer method, Joan was known for her exceptional cursive handwriting.

She was a beloved grandparent with a big Christmas heart. She filled every Christmas celebration with warmth, wonder, and a seemingly endless love for making the season special. The grandchildren waited with great anticipation for her arrival as she always arrived with several jumbo lawn bags bursting with gifts that took at least three helpers and a few trips to the car. Each and every gift was chosen with thoughtfulness and love, and each was a true work of art bedazzled with specialty bows. It brought her great joy to see her grandchildren open their gifts. It was her special Christmas spirit and the holiday magic she brought that will live on as lasting memories for each of her children and grandchildren.

Joan’s faith was important to her, and she strove to be a kind and caring Christian. She was an exceptional role model to her children: selfless, did not speak ill of others, and did not discriminate against others. She was the kind of person that made smiling and laughter a big part of her life.

Joan was a beautiful person and a loving and generous mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her memory will be held in our hearts: daughter, Laura (Jerry), son, Larry (Barbara), daughter, Cynthia (Lee), and stepson David (Judy); her grandchildren Jennifer (Linda), Angela (Josh), Elizabeth, Kathleen, Joseph (Jenn), and Rebecca; and her great grandchildren Miles, Jack, Luke, Nick, and Landon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her beloved brother, Roy; her stepdaughter Debbie; and her loving granddaughter, Jessica.