Joan Keller Tibbets

Joan Keller Tibbets, born on March 6, 1934, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, peacefully passed away on January 22, 2024, at her Saddlebrooke, Arizona home. She was the beloved second daughter of Sabina Anne and Frank Joseph Keller. She is preceded in death by sister Nancy Lewe. Her fondest childhood memories were family trips to the Jersey shore and the Pocono Mountains, experiences that shaped her lifelong love of nature and adventure.

She graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in 1951 and earned a degree in Political Science from Trinity University in 1955. Joan’s love for music led her to sing in choirs throughout her life, including the Oratorio Choir in Santa Barbara and The Sonoran Singers in Saddlebrooke. She was an avid reader, animal lover, and found solace in her faith, with Saint Francis as her guiding light.

Travel was her passion, exploring over 150 cities on six continents, forming deep friendships, including her companion, Horrie Gelder of Melbourne, Australia.

Joan is survived by her three children, son, Paul, and his wife, Tracy and their boys, Cole and Parker; son, Brian, and his wife, Hiromi, and grandchildren, Alecia, Christian, Sonia and Brendan; daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Denis.