Joana met her husband, Joseph Duane (Duke) Major, while both were attending BYU and they were married on September 1, 1955 in the Salt Lake Temple. Initially, they lived in Southern California, where they had four sons. In 1963, they moved to Utah and built a house on Canyon Road in the Manila Ward, north of Pleasant Grove. There a daughter joined their family.

Joana was always very friendly, outgoing and loving. She had many lifelong friends. She was a devoted mother and homemaker, actively participating with and encouraging her children to develop their talents through many church, school and musical endeavors. As her children dispersed, she kept them and grandchildren connected by inviting all to come at least monthly to “waffle nights”. Every one of her children and descendants felt her intense love, support and interest in them.

For many years, Joana supplemented the family income by teaching piano to the children in the community. She also taught her own children to play the piano. In 1980, Joana went back to school and got her teaching certificate and then taught at Grovecrest Elementary for seven years. Joana supported Duke in his various theatrical activities with the Villa theater in Springville and the Alhambra in Pleasant Grove. She loved theater and acted in many plays in various church, community and theater groups.

Joana had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her life reflected her love of the gospel and her desire to follow her Savior. She taught her children and many others to love Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Joana was grateful for her pioneer heritage, including 11 grandparents and other ancestors who “crossed the plains”. She served in many callings in the church, including as the 1st Relief Society President of the Manila 3rd Ward. From 1999-2000, she served an LDS mission with her husband to Nauvoo Illinois where she made many new friends and portrayed Lucy Mack Smith at the Lucy Mack Smith home.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Julie, for living with and taking care of mom during her final years. A heartfelt thanks also goes out to the many caregivers and friends who spent many hours visiting with and supporting Joana, which allowed her to remain in her home until her death. One of her final goals was to see her daughter married, which happened a month prior to her death.

Joana is survived by her five children: Drew (Mary, dec.), Douglas (Nancy), Dale (Dawna), Darren (Susan) and Julie (Ed) and 15 grandsons, 4 granddaughters, and 32 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Duke, her parents, her siblings Beth and Gordon and Peter, a brother who died in infancy.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 13th at the Canyon Heights Ward building at 3785 West Box Elder Drive in Cedar Hills with a viewing starting at 9:30am and the services starting at 11am. There will also be a viewing on Thursday, November 12th from 6pm until 8pm at the same building. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the general missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.