Joan Remick

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s honor to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, https://www.chla.org/ways-help

We are saddened to announce the loss of Joan Remick, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, on August 12, 2024. After a significant fall resulting in a hip fracture, Joan spent three days in a hospital and one day in a skilled nursing facility where she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Joan lived a long and robust life. Joan was born in Buffalo, New York, and her childhood was spent in both Buffalo and Simcoe, Canada, where her grandmother had a farm. Joan fondly remembered the high school years she spent in Simcoe with its breadth of education and fun social dances. After completing her last year of high school in Buffalo, she did a secretarial course. Joan was always proud of her shorthand and kept many notes throughout her life in that script.

Joan married her 1st husband, Ross Lamb, and they had a son, Jeffrey Lamb (b. 1951). Joan and Ross traveled extensively throughout the USA and Canada, eventually settling in Connecticut. After the couple divorced, Joan moved with Jeffrey to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Joan met and married James Remick, and they had two children, Jim (b. 1961) and Julie (b. 1963). James later adopted Jeffrey Lamb, and after a few stints in states like Massachusetts and Oregon, Joan and Jim chose to settle in Southern California and raise their family of five. As a child, Julie Remick was diagnosed with life threatening cancer and became one of the initial child patients treated successfully at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Joan was the rock supporting the family and particularly Julie during these trying years.

Throughout her life and across the country, Joan worked as a secretary primarily at law firms. She was also a passionate volunteer at the private school in the San Fernando Valley that Jim and Julie attended and at many cancer charities including the Ronald McDonald House. Joan was also a life-long learner and sought out educational opportunities throughout her life.

Joan was a lover of the arts. An avid painter, Joan would create, market and sell her art at festivals, personal engagements, and art galleries. Joan had an intimate connection to jazz music which she passed on to her daughter Julie. She was very knowledgeable and had a large collection of music and an extended group of friends who shared her passion. 

After raising their children in the San Fernando valley and running a successful California Pools franchise, Joan and Jim moved out to the Coachella Valley to slow down a bit and play golf. While there was a lot of golf, there was not much slow down. Their support for each other led in part to the growth and development of a successful swimming pool/outdoor living environment business, now known as TESERRA.

Joan loved the Coachella Valley. She enjoyed its history, lifestyle and the benefits of living in a resort area. Following the passing of her daughter, husband, and son, Joan relocated to Orange County to be closer to her remaining family. For her final years, Joan resided in Aliso Viejo at the Covington. Joan was blessed to make some wonderful friends, rediscovered her passion for painting, and even got to sing on stage a few times.

Joan will be remembered for many things including her love of people. Joan made it a point to reach out to everyone she met. Joan wanted everyone to feel good and made the effort to stay in touch with all her friends. Many people often considered her their second “Mom”.

Joan is predeceased by her daughter Julie Remick (d. 2017), her husband James Remick (d. 2017) and her son, Jeffrey Lamb (d. 2018). Joan is survived by her son Jim and her three grandchildren Nicholas, Matthew, and Rachel.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Forest Lawn in Cathedral City followed by burial services across the street at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City.