Beloved mother and grandmother Joan Cole Pirttila lost her long battle with Alzheimer’s on Aug. 24.

Joan moved to Aberdeen as a teenager and graduated in 1958 from Weatherwax High School. In 1959 she married Mitch Cole and they had three daughters. She married Jerry Pirttila in 1996, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Joan had a passion for sewing and for working with kids. She worked for Aberdeen School District as a sign language interpreter until she went back to college and became a teacher. After graduating from Western Washington University, she taught at Miller Junior High and Yelm High School and retired from Hoquiam Middle School in 2005.

Joan is survived by her three daughters: Cathy Montford (Kevin), Jody Rydman (Ed) and Susie Shivel (Jeff), five grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Funeral arrangements are being handled at Fern Hill Funeral Home.