Joan Fujita Barrera - accomplished Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), experienced world traveler, and loving wife - passed away peacefully with her family at her side on the Lord's Day Sunday, March 12, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 60.

Joan was born at the Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 1963 the daughter of Herbert M. Fujita and Ruth A. Miyamasu. Joan's childhood was highlighted by trips to the Hawaiian Islands of O`ahu and the Big Island to visit her many relatives and friends. Joan was educated at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, CA where she developed many cherished life-long friendships and memories. Joan started her long and successful career in nursing by earning her Diploma of Nursing at the Los Angeles County Medical School of Nursing.  After earning her B.S. in Nursing from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Joan went on to earn a M.S. in Biology with a specialization in Nurse Anesthesia from the Hospital of St. Raphael School of Nurse Anesthesia at the Connecticut State University. In 1997, Joan began her more than 25 yr. career of dedicated service as a CRNA with the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. During this time, Joan was recognized with multiple awards including the Kaiser Permanente CRNA of the year in 2013 and Excellence in Leadership award in 2016. Joan's incredible enthusiasm to care for people, focus on giving back to the community, and results-oriented personality made her career at Kaiser Permanente her dream job.

Besides spending time with her family and friends, Joan and her husband traveled together around the world having visited over 45 countries on 6 continents. Joan summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Peru); snorkeled with sea lions in the Galapagos Is. (Ecuador); studied archaeological digs at the Tikal Mayan ruins (Guatemala); viewed the vast Arabian desert from the top of the Burj Khalifa (UAE); stared-down Barbary apes on the Rock of Gibraltar; hand-fed conch meat to stingrays at Hol Chan (Belize); rode a camel around the Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx (Egypt); gazed at the Northern Lights (Arctic Circle, AK); trekked to the Mt. Everest Base Camp (Nepal), enjoyed chili crab in Singapore; danced under the stars in Bora Bora (Tahiti); road-biked from San Francisco to Los Angeles, explored subterranean caves in the Mexican Yucatan; hiked the John Muir Trail to the summit of Mt. Whitney, and viewed the sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji (Japan). Joan's many personal achievements included training with friends for numerous half-marathons, which earned her many finisher's medals and silver Tiffany running charms, and competing with friends during her many Peloton bike rides. Joan was also an expert Scrabble player, enjoyed growing orchids, and excelled at cooking, quilting, and calligraphy.

Joan was a gift to all that met and knew her. She will be remembered for her unconditional friendship, ability to foster good will and camaraderie, love of Christmas time celebrations, sending handwritten thank you cards, and unique focus on setting a positive example for others to follow. One of Joan's favorite sayings was "charity begins at home" which she practiced throughout her joyful life. Joan also had a special connection to all types of animals most notably cats and kittens, closely followed and invested in the stock market, challenged herself daily with crossword puzzles, and fell deeply in love with her historic 1908 Landmark Pasadena Craftsman home.

Joan's memory will be cherished and kept alive by her loving husband of 14 years, Dr. Thomas P. Barrera. Joan was preceded in death by her father Herbert and survived by her mother Ruth, step-father Winston, brothers Mark, Glen, and sister Hope. Joan is also survived by a large extended family including uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, a niece, and many close friends. Joan was greatly loved by her father and mother in-law Thomas and Rose Barrera.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life gathering on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena located at 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue Pasadena, CA 91106. The Celebration of Life gathering is a private event and advance RSVP is required. Lunch will be served.

A private service will be held on Saturday, April 22, 11:00AM at the Koyasan Buddhist Temple in the Little Tokyo district of Downtown Los Angeles, CA. At a later date, Joan's ashes will be laid to rest at the Barrera family plot.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joan Barrera's name to her favorite charity, The National Cat Protection Society ( www.natcat.org ). The National Cat Protection Society is a non-profit, no-kill 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization with shelters dedicated to cats and kittens located at 6904 W. Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663.