Amanda "Joan" Stewart

March 12, 1927 - March 21, 2018

Amanda “Joan” Stewart, age 91 years, a resident of rural Vienna, passed away Wednesday morning, March 21, 2018, at 8:30 AM at her home. Joan, as she was affectionately known, was born March 12, 1927 in Vienna. She was the daughter of Harry and Margaret Elizabeth (Sanders) Alsip. On February 9, 1946, Joan was united in marriage to Bain O. Stewart in Aurora, Illinois. He preceded her in death on April 15, 2014. Survivors include: her daughter – Belinda “Susie” Cline of Vienna along with Joan’s “babies” Blueberry, Tinker, and many outside farm cats, whom she loved dearly and considered to be part of her family. Joan also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Joan was preceded in death by an infant son – Richard Alan Stewart. Joan was a 1945 graduate of Vienna High School. Joan began her working career as a telephone operator at the Vienna switchboard office. Later, following her marriage to Bain, she was a devoted military wife and homemaker. In 1956, the family was moved to California. Later, they lived in Japan, Hawaii, Colorado and South Carolina. During all of these assignments, Joan became actively involved in a number of clubs and organizations. Following Bain’s retirement from the U.S. Air Force, he and Joan retired to a farm in Johnson County. Joan accepted the position as the librarian at the Vienna Carnegie Library and served until her retirement in the 1990’s. Bain and Joan were charter members of the Countryside Christian Church. She was a longtime member of the Pond Community Lady’s Club, of which her mother-in-law was a charter member in the early 1900’s. Joan was also a member of the Bloomfield Gals (Red Hat Society). She enjoyed making handcrafted ceramic items and had a passion for reading and particularly enjoyed biographies and mystery novels. Joan is remembered as “a social butterfly” for her love of visiting and spending time with family and friends. She also loved to spend time with her "babies," her feline companions. A service honoring the life of Joan Stewart will be held Monday afternoon, March 26, 2018, at 1 PM at Countryside Christian Church, 135 Dameron Lane, Vienna, Illinois. Brother Bill Littrell and Brother Randall Henard will officiate. Burial will be in the Vienna Fraternal Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted Sunday evening, March 25, 2018, from 5 PM – 8 PM at Bailey Funeral Home and from 12 Noon – 1 PM Monday, March 26, 2018, at Countryside Christian Church. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-1905 or to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 204 Halfway Road, Marion, IL 62959.