Joan Marie Saari Morello (Joanie), 86, of East Helena, passed away surrounded by loved ones, peacefully at home on February 6th, 2025, due to complications from dementia.

Born on March 9th, 1938, in Spokane, Joan was the beloved daughter of Harvey Clarence Saari and Alice Elizabeth Akey Saari. She was the youngest of her siblings, Harvey C. Saari Jr., Carol A. Thomas, and was a twin to Jean Alice Saari.

Joan graduated from Helena High School in 1956. At the young age of 16, she began her career at Union Bank, eventually retiring from Wells Fargo Bank at 55. Throughout her life, Joan lived in various parts of Montana, including Havre and Whitefish, before settling in East Helena. It was there that she met the love of her life, Edward Frank Morello. They married on September 28th, 1957, shortly after Ed's return from the war, and Joan's graduation from high school and spent 59 wonderful years together before his passing in 2017. Together, they devoted their lives to growing their family and raising their beloved children.

Joan's life was filled with a multitude of passions, from bowling and knitting to sewing, gambling, boating, and camping. In her retirement, she found immense joy in caring for her grandchildren. Joan always made time to savor the finer things in life, and her radiant spirit touched everyone she met. Despite sometimes appearing shy, Joan had a heart of gold and showed her love through her deep care for those closest to her. She had a knack for making people smile, and her own smile and infectious laughter were a testament to her joyful nature. "No" was seldom in her vocabulary, as she always went out of her way to help others. Her vibrant personality shone brightly until her final moments, leaving her family with countless cherished memories to hold onto for years to come.

Joan is survived by her loving daughters, Gayle Casey and Kathy King (Steve), who cherished every moment with her. Her grandchildren, Dani King (Brad), Shelby King (Stephen), and Tyler King (Alana), will forever hold dear the memories of their beloved grandmother. Joan's great-grandchildren, Karsyn, Kaycen, and Kaylor, brought immense joy to her life, and she adored them deeply. Joan also leaves behind many special friends, nieces and nephews who were touched by her kindness and warmth. Her presence will be profoundly missed, but her spirit will live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, dear Joan. We will miss you dearly and love you to the end of time.

A celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date. Notification will be issued once arrangements have been finalized.