JoAnn Yvette Miller Was born March 2nd, 1939 to proud parents Roland and Edna Figaro. She was raised with her brothers Loren and Alden in the California Bay Area in the town of San Mateo. She graduated for Sam Mateo High school in June of 1956. When she first moved out on her own, she met her first roommate and longtime friend Bridgette Lombardi, whom she kept in close contact with all her life. Shortly after that time she met her first husband Jack Northrop, and although they eventually went their separate ways, they remained close friends forever. In October 1960 JoAnn became a proud mother and welcomed her first son Jon Erik Northrop. Two years later in May of 1962 she was blessed with he second son Steven Adam Northrop. She couldn’t be any happier. That is until the birth of her first grandchild Nadine Northrop. From that time forward, she became known as “Rainbow Grandma”. Now you may ask how she got that name, and depending who you ask you will get a different answer, Perhaps it was the rainbow sticker she had on her car for many years, maybe it was because she gave her granddaughters rainbowbrite dolls, or maybe it was because her boys were the rainbows in her life and her grandchildren the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But what ever the reason, she wore that name proudly until her final days. In 1983 she met her husband Gene Miller at their high school reunion. She was sitting alone at a table, while those around her danced. When out of the corner of her eye she spied a debonair, Santa Clause looking fellow headed in her direction. He approached her and asked her to dance, the rest as we say is history.

Joann moved to Vermont where they continued to live and date for many years, before moving back to the California bay area. Gene and JoAnn married in the summer of 1992 in Sunnyvale, Ca. When they arrived back in California JoAnn obtained a job as a personal secretary for Al Hanosh at Shofu Dental in Menlo Park, CA. Al and his wife became lifelong friends of JoAnn. In 1994 JoAnn and Gene retired and moved to the tiny town of Taylorsville, Ca. She and her husband became Snowbirds and would travel every winter to Yuma, Az to escape the winter snow. Joann and Gene became avid members of the Mt. Jura Rock club. JoAnn joined the Stitch and Bitch knitting group, as well as The Taylorsville Sewing Ladies group. Joann settled into retired life. She spent her time traveling in the r.v. with her husband, knitting, attending wine festivals, gardening, and puttering around the house. She also enjoyed spending quality time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 2003 JoAnn’s world was forever changed when she lost her beloved husband. She continued living in Taylorsville and found solace and companionship with her beloved cat Bandit. Joann spent many a summer in Paso robles with her brother Loren. They would attend wine festivals, go wine tasting, attend concerts in the park and just enjoy each other’s company. It was at one of these such events that JoAnn discovered Incendio, and at the young age of 75 became a groupie. For many years she followed that group and purchased their merchandise. Shortly after my grandfather’s passing, I moved in with my grandmother because I didn’t want her to be alone in the mountains. In 2016 Joann sold her home and moved to Yuba city, Ca. She was ready to be out of the cold snow and closer to her loved ones. In Yuba city Joann discovered a new side to herself and joined a local gym, where she met her trainer and friend Linda.

She enjoyed her regular visits to the gym and was excited at the prospect of getting back in shape. In coming to Yuba city Joann made many new friends like her neighbor Fern and Her Gardener Ryan. Joann took Ryan under her wing and in return he looked out for her and gave her need transportation as her eye sight began to fail her due to her Glaucoma. Though she had been dealt some tough hands lately with deaths of loved ones and her own failing health, she maintained a positive outlook and tried to live life to the fullest when ever possible. She loved her children, grandchildren and great children with all that she was.Joann Passed from this world peacefully on Nov. 4th, 2018. I lived with my grandmother Joann for almost 20 years. When I moved in with her our already strong bond became inseparable. We did everything together. We were each other’s shadows, wherever one of us was the other was never far behind. we had some great adventures together, whether we were spending time in Reno, Exploring Las Vegas, Visiting Paso Robles or just catching a movie. I will always cherish those special memories. Don’t get me wrong we definitely had our moments where we squabbled and didn’t get along but, it never lasted long. She was there for me like no one else was. She lifted me up and gave me the strength and courage I never knew I had. Even in the toughest of times, like when I dealt with the losses of my mom, dad and sister. I can Honestly and truly say that I am going to be very lost without her, but I know she would want me to pick myself up by the bootstraps and make her proud. Though she may be gone she will never be forgotten. She’s left a piece of herself in each of our hearts. I know she is up in heaven now with Grandpa Gene, smiling down on us all with a heart full of love. I will always miss you grandma, but I love you and will carry you always with me.