Portland resident, Joan Field Ormsby, died Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Damascus. She was 84 years old.
A Celebration of her life will be held 1:00 PM, Sunday, October 1, 2023 at Metzler Park. Inurnment will be at Springwater Cemetery.
Joan Madonna Field was born July 2, 1939 in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada to John and Lillian (Pearce) Field. She was raised there and age 20, she moved with her daughter to Independence, Oregon and married DeWayne Bremer an airman who had been stationed at Gander Airforce Base in Newfoundland. They moved to Salem in February 1960. Then to Portland with their three children. Joan moved to Boise, Idaho 1968 where she owned and operated Dick and Joanie’s dance studio with her husband Dick Cockraine. Joan taught all kinds of dance, Ballroom, Swing, Latin and Belly Dance, she had a very large following of ladies clad in scarves, jingling coins and playing the Zills, a colorful and beautiful display of the true artistry of the dance. In the early nineties Joan purchased The Wedding House on 39th and Clinton in SE Portland which she ran for 28 years. One of her greatest gifts was her love of making things beautiful and being of service. She retired from the wedding business in 2013.For many years she owned and operated Mocha Mammas Coffee Shop in Maywood Park a satellite of Mt Hood community college. Joan also worked for Community Vision an organization that supports the care of disabled persons, she worked as a care giver as well as providing work at the café for her clients.
She never gave up teaching dance until 3 years ago at age 81.
Her greatest joy was giving people the confidence to dance and have fun.
Survivors include her daughter, Michele Field; sons, Gabriel Lee, Jon Bremer; brothers, Randy Field, Terry Field; sisters, Delores Field-Croke, Corinne Field; grandchildren, Anton Grohs; Miranda Field-Martin, Connor Bremer and Su Lee.
Joan was a marvel, as strong as the rock she came from, determined, she never gave up on anyone or anything. She laughed, she was beautiful, but never really knew it, she gave of herself without hesitation. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.