Joan Helen (Yunck) Harkins

Joan Helen (Yunck) Harkins, age 90 of Cotati, CA passed away on June 3, 2021 in her home following a brief illness.

Joan was born in South Orange, NJ on April 15, 1931 to John Adam Yunck and Helen Grace (Farrall) Yunck. After the death of her father, the family moved to Bangor, ME where Joan graduated from John Bapst High School in 1949. She attended the College of Mt. St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY majoring in art history. Joan was a years-long camper and counselor at Camp Mesacosa in Corinth, NY and a fiercely proud Stag!

In 1954, Joan moved west with her mother, settling in San Francisco and eventually the Town of Ross in Marin County, CA. In 1963 she was married to James L. Harkins, formerly of Mt. Kisco, NY, at St. Anselm’s Church in Ross. After stays in Modesto and Sacramento, Joan and James returned to Ross to raise their four children: Kathleen, Nancy, James, and John. Following the death of her husband, Joan lived in Novato, CA for 18 years, eventually settling in Cotati where she lived until her passing.

Joan was well-known in Cotati for dutifully walking her beloved dachshund Gus around town. An avid San Francisco Giants fan, she loved to catch “Kruk and Kuip” on television and attended games at the ballpark even in her later years. But as the rock at the center of her close-knit family, Joan’s greatest joy was the love of her children and grandchildren which meant more to her than anything in the world.

Joan is survived by her loving children: Kathleen Anne Maki (David) of Manteca, CA, Nancy Joan Harkins of Chicago, James Richard Harkins of Cotati, John Edward Harkins of Gilroy, CA; and her devoted grandchildren: Katie Grace Maki, Emily Nicole Harkins and Andrew William Maki.

Joan was preceded in death by: her husband James; her parents John and Helen; her siblings John Adam Yunck, Jr. (Ruth) of Okemos, MI, Richard Theodore Yunck (Veda) of Pinehurst, NC, Barbara M. Hughes (Edward) of Bangor; her daughter in law Barbara Hilda (Mitchell) Harkins of Gilroy; and her “Beautiful Angel” grandson Stephen James Maki.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Cotati on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:00 am followed by a private burial.

We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at Hospice of Petaluma. Memorial donations to honor Joan may be made to Hospice of Petaluma or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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