Joanne Marie Rider, 70, of Brookeville, MD passed away April 11, 2020 with her husband and daughter by her side after a four month battle with stage-four inoperable glioblastoma.
Joanne Donahue was born February 16, 1950 to her loving mother, Mary Jane Donahue (nee Chattin) in Kansas City, MO. Her biological father was Richard Chapman. She is survived by her beloved husband, Donald G. Rider, of Brookeville, MD and adoring daughter, Jennifer J. Donahue, whom she shared in life with Michael P. Mullaley of Las Vegas, NV, step-daughters, Kristen Rider-Legge of Elkridge, MD, Jillian Rider Conlin of Wayne, PA, sister Kathleen Sackett (nee Campbell) of Spokane, WA, and three brothers, Daniel E. Donahue of San Angelo, TX Jonathan David Campbell of Bloomington, IN, Dr. Benjamin S. Dixon of Nacogdoches, TX, sister Vicky Campbell Jordan of Arlington, VA, brothers Tim Chapman (Tammy) of Angora, MN, Michael Chapman (Julie) of Hennepin, MN, and Connie Chapman of Forest Lake, MN. She has seven loving grandchildren, Aidan Emory, Samantha, Elizabeth, Cassidy, Lyla, Reese and Christopher.
Two brothers John Joseph Donahue III, Emory Clay Campbell III, and one sister, Candace Chapman, preceded her in death.
Joanne’s family moved from Chicago, IL to Las Vegas, NV in 1962 where she graduated from Valley High School. She attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas as a journalism major. A single-mother, she took infant Jennifer with her to work as secretary for the early political offices of Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan in Las Vegas, NV. Vice President of Marketing at Bank of America, award-winning Vice President Account Services and Government Relations, Joyce & Associates, Director of Public Affairs, Nevada Home Builder's Association, and Congressional Aide to Congresswomen Shelley Berkeley and Dina Titus. Named President of the Public Relations Society of America, Las Vegas Chapter, Distinguished Woman of Southern Nevada in 1992, directed commercials with James Cameron, and named among Powerful Young Women of Nevada in 1993. Member and officer of Thomas Stone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she valued justice, service, and conservation. Joanne attended St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Olney, MD. She was retired and enjoyed frequent travel with Don to Europe and the Caribbean, singing with everyone, playing with her grandchildren, and working in her organic pollinator/meditation garden. Joanne was a writer, percussionist and photographer. She was a 22 year breast cancer-survivor. Joanne was beloved and respected in life, devoted to her family and treasured friends, and gave kindness, love and light to all. She was fun and full of joy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two GoFundMe campaigns: The Joanne Rider Tranquility & Pollinator Garden to maintain her meditative garden where neighborhood children and friends are welcome to walk, laugh, pray or the 2050 Focus to Defeat Glioblastoma the mission of which is to support research for a cure and support for families and caregivers of glioblastoma patients.
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