JoAnn Roullier, 93

The earth grew much dimmer, but the heavens grew immensely brighter as our dearest treasure, our beloved mother, JoAnn Marie Blood Roullier, went to her final, beautiful resting home with God on Oct. 30, 2026, to be reunited with her husband, Paul, and all the family members who had been patiently waiting for her.

Mom was born Oct. 15, 1933, in St. Ignatius, the eldest of six children, to Mary A. Ashley Blood and Louie A. Blood. Mom was soon joined by her brothers and sisters, Charlie, Louie, Patty, George and Gloria. Years later, another sister, Rita, was located.

A child of the Great Depression, Mom often reminisced about the wonderful time spent on the Ashley farm near the base of the Mission Mountains in St. Ignatius. 

Mom attended elementary school at Villa Ursula, but the World War II years moved the family to Portland, Ore., and then to Antioch, Calif., for work. Mom so loved her time there. She would recall standing in line with the ration coupon books during the war as the adults were working. 

The family moved back to St. Ignatius as the war drew to a close. Mom graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1951.

Following graduation, Mom moved to Missoula to take business courses and work. She had great memories of living at the historic Babs Apartments. 

Eventually, Mom moved back to St. Ignatius and married Paul D. Roullier in 1954. The family quickly began to grow with the arrival of Mary, Paula, Amy, John and Michael. 

Dad’s work with the highway department moved them to Helena and Shelby for a time and then back to St. Ignatius. 

Dad found a home in St. Ignatius not long before he sadly and unexpectedly passed away in 1966. This house became Mom’s forever home, and she took such pride and joy in making it so for 60 more years. 

Mom’s fortitude allowed her to move through many hardships and heartbreak. Her steadfast faith in God, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary sustained her over and over again through her long life. 

We believe Mom could have done anything in her life, but she told us she always wanted to be a mother, and that is what she then devoted the rest of her life to – her children. 

Always a hard worker, Mom held positions as a retail clerk through the years and worked as a hospital aide in St. Ignatius as a young girl, but Mom’s life really took off again once she raised us and retired. She loved volunteer work with the Ladies Catholic Guild, sacramental baptismal preparation classes, the Mission Food Pantry, the town library, the Tribal Senior Center in Mission, CSKT tribal elections, and most especially at the Catholic Mission Church Log Cabin museum. 

Upon retirement, Mom enjoyed bus rides throughout the valley to the Senior Centers for luncheons, music and visiting, along with trips to many of the libraries. 

Mom didn’t think she was a good student in school, but she became an avid reader and wanted everyone to pursue education in its many forms. She so enjoyed her backyard birds, taking care of her home and yard, and genealogy research with her cousin, David Chalk Courchane. 

She provided the magic for the holidays and special events. She embraced technology and social media to stay in touch with family, friends and local and world events, including online Mass around the world. 

Mom was quite healthy until her mid-70s, but again her indomitable strength saw her overcome a heart attack and stroke and two bouts of lymphoma, but congestive heart failure finally caught up with her. Mom simply loved and prayed her generous heart to pieces. 

Mom was a proud, enrolled CSKT tribal member. She was a lifelong member of the St. Ignatius Mission Catholic Church.

Mom was also a grateful supporter of all the veterans who have served or are serving our country. She was very proud of all the family members and friends who were in the military. 

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Mary “Girlie” Blood and Louie Blood; her brothers, Charlie, Louie and George Blood; and sister Rita Hewitt Kellenberg. 

Mom is survived by her loving sisters, Patty Bundy and Gloria Artis; brother-in-law Keith Artis and sister-in-law Coco Blood; as well as her devoted children and their spouses and partners, Mary and Doug Reisig, Paula and Greg Schock, Amy Roullier and Matt Hopkins, John Roullier and April Conklin, and Michael Roullier. Mom’s amazing grandchildren include Kris (Erin) Schock, Todd Schock (Anne-Marie Campbell), Emily (Matt) Thoft, Bryan Schock (Michael Thomas), Kyle (Natasha) Schock, Megan (Joel) Kautz, Callie (Alex) Zazzi, Alexandria (Drew) Roullier, Kazlyn Roullier, Chance (Connie) Roullier, Bella Roullier and Elliana Roullier. Her beautiful great-grandchildren are Cooper and Jackson Silva, Greyson and Theo Zazzi, and Enzo Roullier. 

We thank all of Mom’s wonderful family, friends and neighbors who filled her days with news, laughter and love. Small communities are simply the best. 

Enjoy a cup of tea, read a book, say a prayer, take a Sunday drive, watch a PBS show, call and hug your family, eat a piece of cake (her favorite choice), hug a Christmas Tree, notice the birds, the rocks, the flowers, the leaves, the sunset and the mountains out your own front door. Mom would like that. 

Mom, you will always be remembered and loved to the moon and back. Mom would say, “love you more.” 

We will continue to carry you in our pockets, in our hearts. May we carry on your legacy of strength, courage, love for the simple (the best) things in life, generosity, and love of God and family. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at St. Ignatius Mission Catholic Church, 300 Beartrack Ave. in St. Ignatius, followed by interment at the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery, then refreshments in the church social hall.

If you should choose to make a donation in memory of Mom, she would have appreciated donations to the St. Ignatius Mission Church, the Mission Valley Food Pantry or the Mission Valley Honor Guard.

Arrangements under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.