Barbara Croissant Obituary

Barbara J. Croissant
Barbara Joan (nee Jewison) Croissant, age 96, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2026, in Batavia, Illinois. She was a devoted wife, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, an educator, and a friend. She and her beloved husband Welton "Pierre" Croissant were married for more than 74 years. Known to all her family and friends as Joan, she was born on June 17, 1929, in Macomb, Illinois, to her parents Delmar and Maxine (nee Bacon) Jewison. Joan and Welton were married in the Methodist Church of Macomb, Illinois, on August 5, 1951. After graduating from Macomb High School, Joan began pursuing a degree at Western Illinois University in Macomb. After two years there, she was able to transfer to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where she completed her degree in 1950. It was while she was a student in Iowa City that she met her husband-to-be, Welton Croissant (later known to all his friends and family as "Pierre"). She and Pierre met on a blind date; when she returned from that first date, she told her college roommate that she had just met the man she was going to marry. Her initial degree was in English; later in life she pursued graduate studies in education and obtained her teaching certificate. After their marriage, Joan and Pierre settled in Pierre's hometown of Crete, Illinois, where they raised four children. Once the kids were all old enough to go to school, Joan entered the teaching profession. She had a deeply satisfying career as a teacher of kindergarten and first grade. She taught first at Sauk Village, Illinois. In 1973, the family moved to Joliet, Illinois, and Joan taught in the neighboring Shorewood School District. She was rightly proud of her achievements as a teacher. She had a lasting impact on generations of young children, who remember her caring and compassionate presence in the classroom. She and Pierre lived life to the fullest. Joan was always interested in the issues of the day and even late in life enjoyed attending protest marches to support the causes she believed in. A great lover of music, she treasured her frequent trips to Chicago to hear the Chicago Symphony. She was also an avid reader and was especially fond of the novels of Jane Austen. She and Pierre traveled extensively in retirement; each year from 2004 to 2014, they went on a river cruise in Europe. The highlight of those trips was a cruise along the Adriatic coast of Croatia, with a stop at the island of Krk. A woman of strong faith, brought up in the Methodist Church, Joan was an active member of Methodist or Presbyterian congregations throughout her life. Her longest church association was with the First Presbyterian Church of Joliet, Illinois. She gave of herself to others throughout her life and was a constant model of grace, kindness, and humility. Joan and Pierre moved into the Holmstad Covenant Community in Batavia, Illinois, in 2012. They spent more than thirteen happy years in independent living there, making many new friends. In December of 2025, they moved to Holmstad's assisted living unit. The family is deeply grateful to the caring staff of Ekstam Assisted Living for the outstanding care they provided to Joan in her final days. Joan touched many lives and will be remembered lovingly by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Benevolent Care Fund of Holmstad Covenant Living, 700 West Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, Illinois, 60510. A memorial service will be held in the Commons Auditorium at Holmstad at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Arrangements entrusted to the Carlson Holmquist Sayles Funeral Home & Crematory. For information call (815) 744-0022 or visit www.chsfuneral.com.