Catherine Joan Boone Bellan

Catherine Joan Boone Bellan was born January 15,1929 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, and died peacefully at home on September 25, 2026. The first in her family to be born in a hospital, she grew up in Jackson, attended St. Joseph Catholic School graduating in 1947, and went to Webster College in St. Louis Missouri where she majored in math and minored in Spanish. Returning home to Jackson, Joan worked for an actuarial company before being recruited by St. Joseph School to teach math. She taught until her marriage to John Alexander Bellan, Jr. (Jack) and then devoted herself to raising her three children. As a cradle Catholic she was active in her parishes – first St. Peter, then Holy Family, and finally St. Richard where she remained a parishioner until her death.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Charles Henry Boone and John McNamara Boone, her husband Jack Bellan, and her son-in-law Charlie O’Connor.

Joan is survived by her children John (Noella) Bellan, Susan Bellan O’Connor, and Catherine Bellan Bitterman (Jim). She is also survived by her five grandchildren Jack Bitterman (fiancé Halle), Joanna Bellan (fiancé Jared), Alex Bellan (Erin), Henry Bitterman, and Mary Hazel Bellan as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.

Her family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to her caregivers of the last several years who loved her and were loved by her and her family.

Memorials can be made to the John A Bellan Memorial Trust in care of the Catholic Foundation, St. Richard Catholic Church, or a memorial of your choice.