Joan Rollande Hutton

The family of Joan Rollande Hutton is grieved to announce the passing of Joan on August 1, 2026. She died peacefully in her sleep in her own bed at home in Penngrove, CA among a community of neighbours, friends, and family who cared for her deeply.

Joan fiercely loved Penngrove and the life she built there over 60 years. She, along with other Penngrovians, bravely contributed to preserving Penngrove and its open spaces against the ever-expanding and dreaded “Rohnert Park” (she’s still watching you, Rohnert).

As a child born in the Depression, who frequently told her grandchildren about collecting dandelions for dandelion soup (yet her grandchildren were still not grateful for the liver and onions put before them), Joan had an equally fierce love for America and the small-town squares that make up the great quilt of this country. Penngrove, with its green and golden fields at the foot of Sonoma Mountain, with its small church, main street, and volunteer firefighters (who put on a lovely Fourth of July Parade), was the place she decided to call home for over six decades.

Yet, Joan always remembered her family “back east.” Joan was born to Canadian immigrants who met in the shoe factories of Massachusetts, and her heart had roots in Québec (nom de famille Guenet), Nova Scotia (Hawleys), and Prince Edward Island, where she would spend her summers as a child with the Deagles.

After the Second World War, she married a Pearl Harbor survivor, Harry Hutton, and they built a life, scrap by scrap, in Sonoma County to live a dream of having a few acres, friendly neighbors who look out for one another, and a place to raise a family. She worked for decades in the California title business and was the first female manager at her company.

Like many of her generation, she contributed to her community through service. Her past memberships, offices, and honors include: Past President, San Rafael Toastmasters; Past Officer, Petaluma Moose Club; Member, Autumn Leaves; Past Officer, Eastern Star; Volunteer, Palm Drive Hospital; Grand Cross recipient, Eastern Star for her work with the Rainbow Girls. She was a frequent contributor to the annual Penngrove Community Church abelskiver breakfasts, teas, and summer BBQs over many years (when small-town churches still had their annual rituals that nourish a community).

Joan’s hobbies included knitting; painting; gardening (she was very proud of her 110 roses—her grandson who had to water them when she was away, less so); needlework; and to the joy of everyone, baking. Her loss will diminish the annual joy of December Christmas cookies and fudge that fueled New Year’s regrets & resolutions each January.

Joan was also fiercely proud of her family. Her great sorrow and tragedy was having to survive the passing of her daughter, Denise Marie Hawley, whom she dearly loved. She also lost her grandson-in-law, Phil Stommel last year.

Joan is survived by her grandson Matthew Huculak, granddaughter-in-law, Nancy Norris, and great-granddaughter Margaux of Victoria, Canada; granddaughter Dianna Stommel of Woodland, California (if you ever visited Joan’s house, you will know what we’re up to in minute detail); her sisters Carol Pandolfi and Kathy Hawley; and her nephew William Hawley. She was deeply grateful for and deeply loved her dear nieces, Janice Aurelio and Karen Pandolfi, who visited her nearly every weekend.

Joan’s memorial service will be held at the Parent Sorenson Mortuary in Petaluma, California on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 5pm. Please join us in celebrating her life. When one passes at 94 years old, expect handicap parking to be limited.