Joan Stamm was born as Ingeborg Kobner on May 5, 1917 in Bresslau, Germany, and ended her century-spanning odyssey on July 2, 2023.

She passed away gently while sleeping, seven weeks after celebrating her 106th birthday with family and others. It was an afternoon of laughter, smiles, hugs and cake – a day she expected would be her last birthday, she later told caregivers.

Resilience carried her through relocation, cultural adaptation, workplace reinvention, widowhood, financial self-sufficiency, cross-country transplantation and vitality into centenarian years.

She raised sons Alan and Ronald in Manhattan – mostly as a single working parent – before moving to Santa Monica in 1979 and then to Laguna Woods and most recently Laguna Hills.

Her movie-like saga spans a sweep of history from the First World War, which ended when she was 1 year old, through another war during her 20s and through two pandemics. She survived years in Westerbork Transit Camp in Holland during World War II.

Still, she remained vibrant and upbeat throughout her rich and full life, traveling to Switzerland, Southeast Asia, the Canadian Rockies and elsewhere.

This intrepid survivor lived in five of the world's premiere cities: Berlin, London, Amsterdam, New York, L.A.

She wasn't particularly tall in stature, but oh how confidently and purposefully she went from Bresslau to London to further her education and expand lifelong career skills that she used in a series of office manager positions in New York and Santa Monica – jobs that first helped raise a family, then supported it as a widow and later kept her productive and self-sufficient as a West Coast transplant.

Joan didn't see herself as a feminist, but certainly was among path-breaking pioneers of her generation – far from a housewife.

Her legacy is carried forward by sons Alan (Susan) and Ron (Betsy), grandson Matthew, granddaughter Jenna, five nephews and one niece.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Termple Judea, 24512 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 or the Jewish National Fund USA for planting a tree in Israel.

To view webcasting of service, please click HERE.