With the sound of laughter and love in her ears, on the afternoon of September 16, 2026, Joan Rehnell Gaffney Newcomb, finished her race, left her earthly body on her hospice bed and entered into the place that the Lord Jesus prepared for her as His beloved daughter.

Joanie was born in Riverside, California to Joseph Henry Gaffney and Nellie Rae Gaffney, a career military family. Joanie traveled the nation and the world, first as an Air Force Officer’s daughter and later as an Air Force wife, including tours in multiple state-side installations, but also over-seas installations, including Germany and Turkey. Joanie represented her Scot-Irish heritage well: brave in the face of adversity, hopeful for the future, indomitable, optimistic, and anchored in her late-in life trust in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. She was a prayer warrior.

An avid walker, Joanie and her little dog Sugar, enjoyed close friendships with people, sharing funnies, food, and small treasures with each other. Joanie was known as the Squirrel Lady to many because she fed peanuts to the squirrels and seeds to the birds right up until the last days of her life.

Joanie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jerry, her sister-in-love Letha, and her grandson Spencer, her nephew John, and her niece Jennifer. She is survived by her daughters, Trisha Janey (Morris Janey) and Ronda Storms (David Storms), three grandchildren Coleson Janey, Roxanna Storms Su (Jett Ty Su) and Gideon Storms, and one great-grandson on the way to parents, Roxanna and Jett.

Her daughters would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. John Koval, Melissa and the entire radiation team; Dr. Stephen Yavelow; Dr. Nancy Ling; Dr. Candido Otero Arcis; and Accent Hospice and Palliative Care, Sea Turtle Team, particularly Dr. Raymond Merritt, Bart, Sabine, Michael, and Patrice.

Rest in peace, Muv, Madre, and Mamacita.

Since Joanie rescued Sugar, Joanie and Sugar would appreciate memorial gifts to the Hillsborough County Pet Resources Foundation, Inc.https://hcprfoundation.networkforgood.com/