Joan M. Keeley, nee Becherer, 94, of Belleville, IL, died at her home with family present on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Joan was also born at home on July 19, 1932, in the rural Crossroads Area near A. Becherer’s tavern to her parents, Agnes E., nee Baker, and Adam J. Becherer. She was their first-born child.
Her youth was lived at Crossroads, O’Fallon, and Chicago, IL. She was a proud alumna of Academy of Notre Dame and University of Illinois, where she pursued a Bachelor of Science in early education. On the fourth of July 1955, she married Michael P. Keeley, Jr. They lovingly supported each other, raised their children, and always greeted each other with a hug and a kiss. They shared 56 years of marriage.
She was preceded in death by her husband who died September 19, 2011; her parents; two sisters-in-law, Diane Becherer and Charlene Castellano; a brother-in-law, Joseph Filardo; and many beloved friends and relatives.
Surviving are three children, Mary Agnes Sanders, Ann M. (Phillip) Green, and Walsh (Rachael) Keeley; ten grandchildren, Kate (Lukas) Schmid, Clayton (Rae) Sanders, Elizabeth Green, Andrew Green, Clare Green, Mary Green, Grace Green, Seamus Keeley, Brigid (Fernando) Garcia, and Liam Keeley; three great-grandchildren, Hannah Schmid, Markus Schmid, and Rio Garcia; a sister, Janet Filardo; two brothers, Robert “Bob” (Ann) Becherer and Richard Becherer; and nieces and nephews, Liz, Andy, Adam, and John, Wildcats all.
Joan had a gift for making people feel valued through encouragement, presence, interest, hospitality, and commitment to family and friends. She showed strength as a planner of enrichment activities, reunions, and parties for family, classmates, her students, relatives, friends, and various groups. Her memberships in PTA and the Blessed Sacrament Sodality organizations also benefitted from these abilities. Family outings were a diverse experience of adventure, fun, and learning due to all her great advance research and knowledge of small details. Joan, the reading teacher, was a great reader! Those who knew her will remember her kindness, goodwill, hope for the future, personal warmth, dry sense of humor, and love of life.
Memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church or School. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2026, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Service: A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2026, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. Jack McEvilly officiating.
Private burial will be at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.