Joanne loved our North Carolina mountains, loved Flat Rock, loved Kenmure and loved the many friends she had here. She started what became Kenmure Fights Cancer in 2002. 

Her husband, Ken, relates, "In 2007, Joanne was named "Woman of the Year" by Pardee Hospital. Her picture (below) is still in the Cancer Center at Pardee. At that time, we thought cancer was behind us ... but as we know, you are never cured ... it is just in remission. When her cancer was identified again, she was concerned she would let those people down who had thought this was over. 

"Joanne loved to 'cruise.' We had traveled everywhere and had been on ships of all shapes and sizes but she wanted to make one last trip around the world. Dr. Radford (at Pardee Hospital) gave us the okay to go since there was nothing else to do. She sent a daily email from the ship to her friends, many who are here in Kenmure, and was upbeat until the end.  We got as far as Australia when she just couldn't go any more. We came home and she died a few weeks later ... March 31, 2009."

The Black Pearl Necklace

 Ken has written a book about her last days that were filled with purpose. He shares her journals written on board the ship and her mission to find the perfect gift for a very special person. You won't want to miss the amazing coincidence (or was there more to it?) revealed at the end.

Click below to read two excerpts
from the book:

Black Pearl Necklace Prologue

Joanne and Her Wigs

Order your copy at Amazon

All proceeds to Kenmure Fights Cancer!

Ken has made an ongoing commitment to donate all proceeds
from the sale of the book to Kenmure Fights Cancer.