Joan Peterson-Davis

Joan Peterson-Davis, age 85, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026, in Wheeling, Illinois, leaving behind a legacy shaped by compassion, independence, and a deep commitment to helping others.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 20, 1941, to Charles and Evelyn Peterson, Joan approached the world with curiosity and a strong instinct to care for others in tangible ways. To know Joan was to understand the size of her heart. She had a particular compassion for people who were vulnerable, overlooked, or in need of support.

Throughout her life, Joan put that compassion into action. She volunteered with organizations serving children without homes and individuals experiencing homelessness. Her maternal love knew no borders; during her travels to Romania to adopt three of her children, she immediately saw the needs around her and stepped up to support local orphanages and caregivers.

Inspired in part by her experiences raising a daughter with disabilities, Joan became a fierce and unwavering advocate for individuals with disabilities. She also remained deeply supportive of adoption, foster care, and children in need, consistently drawn to places where persistence, care, and advocacy could make a difference.

When she wasn’t focused on helping others, Joan filled her own life with beauty and learning. She was an independent spirit who loved gardening, painting, and drawing. An avid traveler, she didn’t just visit new places—she immersed herself in them, always eager to learn about the history and cultures she encountered.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Charles and Evelyn Peterson, and her cherished sons, Timothy Welch and Steven Welch, whose loss remained deeply felt throughout her life.

Joan is survived by her six children, Lisa Davis (Ken), Lauren Hunter (Steve), Paul Welch, Gabi Davis, Michael Davis, and Stephanie Davis (Rebecca Rutherford); fourteen grandchildren, including her grandson, Noah Welch, whom she raised with deep love and devotion; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Judith Simonson; and her brother, Thomas Peterson. She is also remembered by her former husband and longtime friend, Lee Davis, who remained an important part of her life.

Her legacy is found in the people she cared for, the causes she stood behind, and the compassion she extended to those who needed it most. Her life reflected a belief that helping others mattered, and that belief left a lasting mark on those who knew her.

In Loving Memory of Joan Peterson-Davis

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there; I did not die.

Arrangements were entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to organizations supporting autism advocacy, foster care and adoption services, Alzheimer’s support, and children in need, including Urban Autism Solutions, Chicago Autism Network, the Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago Angels, and Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.