Dorothy Joan Doyle July 1, 1929 - May 23, 2024

Dorothy Joan Doyle

(nee Eskeles) fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Beloved wife of the late Jerome Francis Doyle, dear mother of Jerome F. Jr. (Sally), Sean, Deidre Pitts (Jeff), and Christopher, dear daughter of the late I.H. Eskeles, MD and Maria Schulte Eskeles, dear grandmother of Kelly and Shannon Doyle; Bridget Obermark (Daniel) and Erin Doyle; Kathleen, Jack (Megan), Andrew (Natalie), and Daniel Pitts, dear sister of the late John S. Eskeles, dear great-grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend.

Joan was born the year of the “stock market crash of 1929” and was raised by two loving parents (Mimi and DocDoc) during the Great Depression. She was a teen during World War II and grew up with her dear brother Jack and dozens of cousins, many of them characters we all heard about throughout the years. The stories of her youth were always entertaining.

She was a life long St. Louisian (except for a seven-year stint in Kansas City with her then new husband Jerry).

Joan was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and beautiful grandmother, lovingly known as “BG”.

What was most important to Joan was her faith, her family, her friends, and having fun.

Joan was a long-time parishioner at Immacolata Catholic Church in Richmond Heights. She knew her God well, loved her church, and faithfully practiced her faith.  She loved the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the power of prayer.  She was a volunteer at Immacolata School and was involved in numerous auctions and events in support of the parish.

She loved the Jesuits and was an avid supporter of St. Louis University and DeSmet Jesuit High Schools.  Her husband Jerry, all of her sons, and all of her grandsons were Jesuit educated.  Joan loved the Jesuits.

Joan’s vocation was her family.  She was married to the love of her life Jerry for 55 years.  Together they raised four children, practiced their Catholic faith, hosted numerous parties, could be seen “out on the town”, and traveled the world.

They were blessed with eight grandchildren, and those grandkids became the center of their universe.  When Jerry passed away in 2011, Joan became the matriarch of the family and made sure her grandchildren would have the best BG possible. She was always there for them. She indeed was an awesome “beautiful grandmother”.

Joan was known as a prolific artist (watercolor was her passion) and many of her paintings hang in homes throughout St Louis and the United States. She also had a beautiful voice and an extensive purse collection that she cultivated over many, many years. She was very talented and put her talents and fashion to good use making people happy and sparking many a conversation.

Joan cherished her friends and she had many.  People gravitated to Joan wherever she was, wherever she went.  She loved to have fun and could make just about anybody laugh.  Her belly-giggle was contagious and could be heard from a mile away.  She was once a member of a bridge club called “the laugh a lots” … and they definitely laughed a lot more than they played bridge.  That was very typical for whatever Joan did in her life.

Joan could find the goodness in just about everybody, just about all the time.

Almost all of Joan’s grandchildren live outside of St Louis, and they all got a chance to come home to see their BG and to spend time with her in her final weeks. That was a most beautiful thing.

Recently, during a hospice nurse’s visit to take her vitals, her nurse proclaimed that everything looked good.  Joan exclaimed “Alright then, onward and upward!”  That was Joan:  resilient, strong, and always lifting spirits!

Services:  Visitation and Mass of the Resurrection will be held Friday, June 7 at Church of the Immacolata, 8900 Clayton Rd.  Visitation at 9 a.m. with the Mass to follow at 10:30 a.m.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred or contributions to the St. Vincent dePaul Society at Immacolata or St. Martha’s Hall appreciated.