Obituary: Joan E. Bessa

Joan E. Bessa, age 90 of Rhinelander, died Dec.31, 2017, at Country Terrace Assisted Living.  She was born March 25, 1927, in Monico, to Patrick and Delia (Behrens) Stevens.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Mary Bessa of Hudson, Char Bessa of Madison, Carol (Bill) Palm of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Cheryl (Lee) Tourtillott of Burnsville, Minn.; sons, Gary (Connie) Bessa of Rhinelander, and Tom Bessa of Rhinelander; 21 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska, Ruth Bahl of Lakeside, Calif., Iris Lundt of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Fayne (Larry) Diegel of Rhinelander; brothers, Mike Stevens of Pompano Beach, Fla., Tom Stevens of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Harry Stevens of Deer Park, Texas; other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; a daughter, Lori Birginal; and a son, L. John Bessa.

The funeral mass for Joan will take place at 11:30 a.m., January 5, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, St. Joseph Site. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of mass Jan. 5, at the church.  Interment will take place in Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Cemetery. (Carlson Funeral Home)