Joanne B DeBen

Joanne Bertha DeBen 1937 - 2022 Joanne Bertha DeBen, age 85, passed away peacefully from colon cancer on April 6, 2022 at her son's home in Woodland, CA. She was a long-time resident of Newport and spent her last several years living between Oregon and California. Joanne was born to Bertha and Anton Hurliman in 1937 in Woods, OR and raised on a dairy farm in Pacific City. She graduated Providence Nursing School in Portland and met her future husband Waldemar "Wally" on a blind date. They were married 14 months later, on June 13, 1959, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cloverdale. They moved to McMinnville where Joanne worked as an RN at the hospital "putting hubby through college". They moved to Newport in 1963 and raised three children. She worked as a registered nurse for 20 years between McMinnville, Newport and Toledo. Cooking and family traditions were very important to her. She regularly prepared large meals for family and friends, especially Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving, with holiday specific plates and décor. Her home was always the primary gathering spot for all important occasions. Joanne enjoyed daily beach walks and small details like feeding kitchen scraps to a group of seagulls that knew her well. She had an uncanny ability to find razor clams, earning her the family "Razor Clam Queen" title. Joanne and Wally were longtime sponsors of homeless children in Lebanon, India, Guatemala and Peru. They enjoyed traveling with family, including a 9,600 mile motor home trip around the US with their three young children. They travelled to the Middle East, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Portugal and the island of Madeira. Many of these trips were with their son Chris who served as interpreter and guide. Joanne had an unwavering faith in God and was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over 55 years. Over the years she served in various lay ministries, organized large parish breakfasts and church bazaars. She was the director of Birthright, a pregnancy support organization, where she volunteered for over 20 years. Joanne is predeceased by her husband of over 50 years Waldemar (Wally) DeBen, grandson Gregory Capri and brother Dave Hurliman. She is survived by her 3 children Theresa (Rex) Capri, Douglas (Lizzy ) DeBen, Christopher DeBen; grandchildren Gina Capri (Henri Compaore), Anna Capri (Chad Hoefer), and Michael Capri (Tori Carlson); greatgrandchildren Isaac, Sonia, and Evence Compaore and London Capri-Larrea. She is also survived by sisters Kathleen (John) Corrigan, Christy (George) Beltran; Brothers Ben(Sandy) Hurliman, Jim (Sue) Hurliman, Ed Hurliman and Chuck (Sue) Hurliman and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newport on April 23, 2022 at 11:00 am. A rosary will begin 30 minutes prior.

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Joanne B DeBen

March 7, 1937 - April 6, 2022