Joan Gardner Minette1929-2016Joan Gardner Minette, age 87, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 16, 2016. Joan was born on May 23, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This dentist's daughter spent her entire childhood in Browerville, MN. In her early teens, Joan declined an invitation to train to swim the English Channel because it would have caused her to relocate for training. She was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1947 with the highest grade point average in Browerville HIgh School history.On scholarship, she attended Saint Benedict's College of the Sacred Heart. She transferred to the University of Minnesota where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics. She worked as a Teacher, Home Economist, Substitute Teacher and was a self-taught hobby Nutritionist.Joan & Maurice were married on the 31st of July in 1954 and moved to Endicott, New York; Youngstown, OH; Cleveland, OH; Marquette, MI; as well as Dallas, Beaumont and finally Houston, Texas in 1978. Both Joan and Maurie cherished their time together hosting friends, dancing to both country and big band music at different venues, but even more so, watching their children's and grandchildren's citywide and intrastate academic, musical, dance and sporting awards & performances. They have fond memories of trips abroad and multiple trips to Hawaii with their children and grandchildren. They especially enjoyed their 60th wedding anniversary party at the Houston Racquet Club with friends and family two years ago and an extended family birthday gathering the day and night preceding her passing. While in Beaumont, Joan was active in the Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority and was named Sweetheart in 1974. In Houston, she became active in the Lancers Club and the Slovene American Club and was Woman of the Year in 1996. Joan is survived by her husband Maurice, their children: Maurice, Jr, Mary Kathryn (David) Nicholas, and Michelle (Brian) Baird; their grandchildren: John Porter, Melissa Minette, and Holden and Madeleine Baird; and great grandchildren: Chloe, Kaitee and Dakota Porter.A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 11 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks. She will be interred with her parents, grandparents, and uncle at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family asks contributions in honor of Joan be directed to the or a .