Joanie Lynn Johnson, 42, of North Truro Massachusetts was called by God on December 26th, to her heavenly home where she will find much needed peace and healing.
Born in Lake Charles Louisiana, she found her talent in the performing arts. Joanie loved to sing and perform in the theater. Listening to and creating music was something she truly enjoyed, as well as playing several musical instruments. Dance was part of her university studies.
Joanie relished volunteer work. She worked with soup kitchens, Special Olympics, Amnesty International, the America Reads Challenge, reading to homeless children, Earth First! and many other organizations.
Thriving in educational pursuits, she gained certification in a variety of areas. After becoming a licensed massage therapist, she attended Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where she received a degree in Contemplative Psychology, concentrating in Health and Healing. This allowed her to do social work as well as be a holistic practitioner.
At age 42, she decided to continue her education for herself and for her children. After reviewing her options, she applied to Harvard and was accepted to begin in the fall of 2020. Because of intense cancer treatments, she had to postpone her plans, but was determined to enter Harvard in 2021 after completing her treatments.
Joanie was deeply proud of her heritage. She enjoyed being a Cajun. Joanie learned French a the French Immersion program. She continued her French studies at Universite De Mons + Hainaut (Mons, Belgium) and at Campus International (Toulon, France). Later in life, she learned about her American Indian (Choctaw) heritage. She fully embraced this and researched it thoroughly. She was honored and thankful to be considered for membership in the Choctaw Nation.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Dean and Cole Wonnacott and Lyla Dowd, her sister Tina Johnson, her parents Lloyd D. Johnson (Jo) and Shirlene Vidrine Clark (Rick), and her devoted cousin and best friend, Mary Verret Krebs.
A brother, Troy Cormier, her maternal grandparents Elizabeth Meche Perry and Heulin Vidrine, and paternal grandparents Tonis Johnson and Leona Duplechin Breaux predeceased her.
Due to the current health crisis and resulting government restrictions, the family will postpone Services until it is deemed safe.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joanie’s name may be made to the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter, 601 W 18th St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, NAMI Southwest Louisiana, 710 Prien Lake Rd Lake Charles, LA 70601, or Helping Our Women, 34 Conwell St, Provincetown, MA 02657.
Words of comfort for the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.