Joanne passed peacefully at home on March 6th of 2023 after over a yearlong battle with breast cancer. Joanne was the second of three girls born in Providence, Rhode Island, to James and Eileen Sunner. Her family moved to Chicago in ‘57 and later settled in Buena Park, CA, in 1961 when Joanne was four years old. Joanne and her sisters Kathi and Jamie grew up swimming at the Los Coyotes Country Club and spent many summers back in Rhode Island with family. Her friends and family gave her the nickname “Joey” in early childhood; she was a carefree girl with a love for animals and the outdoors. Joanne excelled in competitive swimming, diving, gymnastics, and synchronized swimming. Her love of sports translated into her lifelong love of being active.
While in high school, at the age of 15, she met the love of her life Jeffrey Tringham on a blind date. She said it was love at first sight. After graduating from Sunny Hills High School in ‘74, she went to Fresno State, where she majored in Physical Therapy. She worked at several hospitals and clinics throughout her career. Her love for helping others always showed in her work. She and Jeff were married in Laguna Niguel in 1980. They enjoyed a long and happy partnership, celebrating 42 years of marriage in 2022. Together they moved around the country from Iowa to Florida, Boston, and back to California. She always remained close to her family and loved being in California to spend time with them and all her nieces and nephews. They also traveled all over the world, spending time in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Caribbean, and Europe.
In 1988 they were blessed with twin daughters, Hannah and Torrey, and two years later, their third daughter Michelle was born. Joanne homeschooled their daughters K-12, and all three went on to become college graduates. A true testament to Joanne’s passion for family and educating her daughters. As a family, they moved to Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and again back to California, where they lived in Sacramento for ten years.
In 2009, Jeff and Joanne moved to Wrightwood, where they were able to fully enjoy the outdoors. Together they loved to mountain bike and hike, and in the winter months, they would snowshoe and cross-country ski. Joanne joined the Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest in 2012 and was very active until 2022. Throughout her life, Joanne was also very involved in church. She started a disabilities ministry and was part of prayer groups at Hillside Community Church in Wrightwood. Joanne had a very strong faith in God and believed wholeheartedly in helping others. She was very selfless and giving, always lending a helping hand to those in need. Their youngest daughter Michelle moved to Wrightwood in 2020 with her husband Benton, and in June of 2021, they welcomed Joanne’s first granddaughter, Ember, who became the light of her life.
Sadly, in January 2022, Joanne was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She started treatment and, over the next 14 months, had highs and lows in her health, but all the while, she kept her faith in God and a smile on her face. In early 2023 Joanne’s health declined quickly, and she passed at home on March 6th. She is greatly missed, but her family is glad she is at peace and is no longer in pain. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Joanne’s favorite charity Joniandfriends.org.
