Joan Elizabeth Zilaff

Joan Elizabeth Zilaff died on January 11, 2024, just 18 days before her 94th birthday.

Joan was born January 29, 1930, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Roy William Casteel and Alice Leona (nee Larson). She graduated from Sacramento High School in 1948 and in 1950 married the only love of her life, Francis William "Bud" Zilaff, Esq. who she met in college. They spent Forty-Seven happy years together until her husband's death in 1997. Together they raised three children: Gary, Denis, and Kimi.

With her family, Joan enjoyed their house at Lake Tahoe, and flying in Bud's airplanes, motor yachts, and later motorhomes.  Joan enjoyed trips to the Midwest (including one harrowing flight piloted by Bud), to the East Coast, and to Carmel where she enjoyed people watching from the window overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and walking her beloved Molly along Scenic Drive. Joan was very proud of her direct male-line descent from the Flemish Counts van den Casteel (du Chaste!) de Blangerval, her maternal Swedish descent, and well as her early Colonial Virginia ancestry, including direct descent from a cousin to George Washington, various Colonial Governors, and Arthur Allen, who built "Bacon's Castle in Surrey County Virginia in the mid 1600s. She loved everyone she met and they loved her back. She was the kindest, and most humble soul imaginable. Joan was active in the Sacred Heart School Mother's Club, Lawyer's Wives of Sacramento, and various animal protection organizations. She loved animals, and was heartbroken by the loss of her West Highland Terrier, Molly, in 2020. Joan enjoyed The Sutter Club for many years through her husband and later through her own widow's privileges, and when the club ended widows' privileges, through her sons' memberships. The entire family enjoyed many Easters, Mother's Days, and Thanksgivings and other events. Joan and her family attended Sacred Heart Church where she enjoyed helping with flowers to be placed on the altar.

Joan is survived by sons Gary (and grandson Edmond) of Sacramento, Denis (Dona), and children Peter (Jill, and children Norah, John,and George, of Sacramento) and Carla (of Portland, Oregon), and Kimi (Peter Hanson) and children Kelly (husband Dean Wale, and sons Charlie and Henry), Ashleigh (husband JT States, and daughter Josie), Ziggy (and wife Sarah and soon to be born baby), and Lexie (all of Perth, Western Australia).

A Mass for the Repose of her soul will be celebrated at on Tuesday January 16, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 39th and J Streets, Sacramento, California.    

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in Joan's memory to the Sacred Heart School Foundation, c/o Sacred Heart Church, 1040 39th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816-5503