Joan Lundeen, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Joan Patricia Hackett was born 1/5/33 in Hollis, Queens, NYC. She died 2/3/22 at her apartment home in Royal Oaks Lifecare Community in Sun City, AZ. Her Funeral Mass will be at 10 am on St. Patrick’s Day, 3/17, in Saint Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Sun City followed by internment in the Solitude Section of Sunland Memorial Park. Joan was the daughter of Francis Hackett, and Mary Catherine Boyce Hackett. Joan and her siblings were raised by Mary whom Joan loved dearly. Her sister Virginia Pitre Oleszkowicz was seven years older, and her brother, Francis Hackett, was 11 years older (all now deceased.) Joan attended Catholic Elementary Schools in The Bronx, NY, and was graduated from St. Barnabas High School in Yonkers, NY. She attended a three-year nursing program at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in NYC to become an R.N., and later went to Hunter College to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing Education. As an RN, Joan worked as a NYC Public Health Nurse, and as a school nurse. She was also involved in contact tracing of Communicable Diseases, well before Covid made its appearance. Joan sensed she wanted to be closer to her patients and their care, so, she went to Columbia University, NYC, for a two-year pre-Med program followed by medical school in Philadelphia, PA at Women's Medical College, now Drexel, where she was graduated, President of her Class, in 1972, 50 years ago. Joan, had her internship at San Francisco General, followed by Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiology Fellowship at Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. After her training in California, Joan moved to the Boston area as an MD and was in charge of the CCU at Boston VA hospital for 12 years. While at the VA in Boston, Joan met and married a single father, Chuck Lundeen with three sons, Vernon, David and Peter on October 7, 1978. In 1989, Joan and Chuck transferred from Concord, MA to Monte Sereno, CA, where Joan took a position as Internist and Cardiologist for Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara, California, where she worked five years before they retired. In their retirement, she and Chuck left California in 1994 and bought a home in Sun City. They moved into Royal Oaks Lifecare Community ten years ago. Chuck's mom Mil Lundeen Whitaker and Joan's sister, Ginny Pitre Oleskowicz both lived at Royal Oaks before they did. Joan was on the RO Healthcare Committee for several years as a non-resident and later as a resident. She was involved with the Learning Tree (a college level program) from the beginning with she and Chuck being in charge of the entire program of outside speakers, formal classes, discussion groups, Readers' Theater and Special Events for 2 years. Joan was a resident member of the planning committee for the memory care unit, Friendship House. Joan was quite involved at St Thomas More Catholic Church (Glendale) with the Faith Sharing program established by the late Merle Parker. Joan also developed with several friends, the Faith Sharing Program at Royal Oaks. She and Chuck moved their membership back to Saint Elizabeth Seton last year as Chuck joined the choir. Joan loved living and being involved in her churches and Royal Oaks. Joan is survived by her husband of 43 years, Chuck Lundeen, their three sons, Vernon and Christine of NC, David and Kristen with 8 children of NH and Peter with daughter Annika of CO. Joan also has a nephew, Joseph Hackett of Syracuse, N.Y., and many friends and associates throughout the country. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85351 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM with a rosary to follow at 4:30 PM. A mass will follow the next day, Thursday, March 17, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 9728 W Palmeras Dr, Sun City, AZ 85373, at 10:00 AM. Donations in her name may be made to Joan’s favorite charity: Edmundite Missions, 1428 Broad Steet, Selma, AL 36701