Joanne Lucille Rabatin

Joanne Lucille Rabatin, a loving presence to so many, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, surrounded by her family in Rochester, Minnesota. She lived her life to her final days with a radiant smile, laughter and a heart filled with gratitude and faith.

Born April 22, 1940, Joanne was the third of six children of Dolores and Vincent Wallerius. She grew up in a busy household on Knox Avenue in North Minneapolis, surrounded by family and friends. Summers at Medicine Lake were among her happiest memories—simple days filled with swimming, boating, and jubilant family weekends. Hospitality was inherent in Joanne's upbringing and continued through her life.

Joanne graduated from St. Margaret’s Academy in 1958, where she served as Student Council President, played basketball and was a stellar student. She went on to study at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.

As a lively young woman, Joanne would spend time working at her father’s warehouse, J.F. Wallerius and Sons, in Northeast Minneapolis. On her lunch break she would occasionally go to Rabatin’s Café where a dashing Lenny Rabatin was working. What started as a double date, turned into a marriage of 60 years. Their life was rich with love, commitment to faith and family, a wide circle of great friends and a joy for dancing.

Together, Joanne and Lenny raised six children in their home on James Avenue North. Joanne was organized, attentive, and active in their school and parish life at St. Bridget’s and later served as President of the Board of Directors at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. She took great pleasure from reading, corresponding with her handwritten notes, home-cooked meals, and an open-hearted hospitality that always welcomed family, many dear friends and neighbors. Outside of her dedication to her family, Joanne had multiple fulfilling careers including a hostess, an Assistant to the Treasurer at an investment firm and an Event Planner for a global membership association.

Faith was a central part of Joanne’s life. Mass and the rosary were part of her daily routine and she had several prayer books in rotation next to her favorite chair. The Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, her patron saint, Joan of Arc, the Benedictine community at St. John’s Abbey, in Collegeville, Minnesota, held special meaning for her, especially during difficult or quiet periods of life.

As her children grew older, she enjoyed traveling to visit them, and later visiting grandchildren as they spread throughout the country and studied abroad. In 2025, for a new adventure, she moved to New York City, where she quickly made new friends and enjoyed museums, concerts, restaurants and attending her grandsons’ high school football games.

The Rabatin family is grateful to Mayo Clinic, especially Drs. Ericka Tung and Adamarie Multari and to the Mayo Clinic Hospice team for their exceptional care.

Memorials preferred to the Joanne and Leonard Rabatin Scholar Award at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School (link) or to Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church (checks preferred).

She is survived by her children, Joe (Sarah Barnum), Jeff, Michael, Mary Stahl (Robert), Steve (Amy), and Anne van Deventer-Rabatin (Bart); grandchildren, Alex, Simon, Oscar, Harper, Hudson, Andrew, Elizabeth, Carolyne, Julianna and Lauren; siblings John (Mary Liz) Wallerius and Mary Lu (Jerry "Shorty") Theis, along with members of her extended family.

She is preceded in her passing by her husband, Lenny; parents, Vincent and Dolores Wallerius; siblings Rita (Claude) Stevens, Ron (Dolly) Wallerius, and Therese (Jerry) Illies.

A visitation will be on Friday March 13, 2026, Gearty-Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel, 3888 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale from 5-8 PM with rosary at 7 PM. A mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday March 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, 1301 2 nd St. NE Minneapolis. Graveside Service will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Minneapolis.