Remember Joan is the account of a daughter beside her mother as they face a life disrupted by Alzheimer’s disease. The book begins with a wedding and ends with a funeral. Embedded between these two ceremonial rituals are two tales, the story of a mother’s decline and death due to Alzheimer’s and the story of a life as the daughter of Joan. The stages of Joan’s Alzheimer’s are described, including the practical and the painful. Familial relationships, both constructive and noxious are examined. Humor is the family’s favorite coping strategy when damage control is necessary. In the end, this book is not only a tribute to Joan’s life, but a tribute to all who try to create a celebrated life with the people that surround them.
