Joan Lynne Kelly

Joan Kelly was a true pioneer, a trailblazer, an adventurer. Joan started her life October 27, 1942, born in Salt Lake City, Utah. First daughter to Leland Eugene Stapley and Carol Jean (Haslam) Stapley. Joan has 6 siblings separated by 25 years from oldest to youngest. She was the matriarch to her siblings: Neil (Sandra) Stapley; Gail (Rich) Lakey; Brent (Robin) Stapley; Robyn (Fred) Cole; Adam Stapley; and Jed (Sheri) Stapley. She enjoyed her annual visits and shared in many family reunions and road trips, keeping her family the most important priority in both her personal life and current adventures. Joan was a certified private pilot, a master baker, interior designer and owner and operator of Two Niner Diner for the last 29 years. Joan was always up for a spontaneous adventure. At 22 years old, she threw caution to the wind, hopped in the passenger seat of her best friend’s thunderbird convertible, and made the road trip from Salt Lake City to San Francisco in 1964 for a job at Lipton Tea Company. It was at an impromptu party in San Francisco that she would meet the love of her life, Daniel Kelly. In 1972 the Kelly family moved north from Fairfax to Petaluma where they settled for the rest of their lives. Joan and Dan were married in February 1964 and remained devoted for 53 years prior to Dan’s passing in 2017. Their loving union resulted in family abound: three beautiful children; Matthew (Vicki) Kelly, Melissa (Ron) Friedrichsen, Nathan (Corriene) Kelly; ten grandchildren: Amanda, Ashley and Casey Kelly; Kayla and Nicholas Friedrichsen; Jessica (George) Reis; Tommy, Nathan Jr., Sophie and Emily Kelly; and two great grandchildren; Amelia and Angelina Reis. Joan had numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and lifelong friendships. Joan’s spirit and connection to family will continue through all that knew her. We are grateful for every day we had to share with her. Due to COVID 19 no formal services will be held. Please make your donations to St Jude in her memory. Please toast her at 5 pm Friday, August 14th and 21st. She did love her happy hours!