Joan Duran

Joan was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, to Juan de Dios "John" Apodaca and Rachel S. Apodaca Cunningham. Her parents later moved to Santa Fe, where Joan attended Loretto Academy before transferring to the public school system. She graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1957 and went on to attend nursing school at Hotel Dieu in El Paso, Texas.

Joan and her husband, Mel, first knew each other while attending Santa Fe High School. After Mel returned home from active duty with the Navy, the two reconnected, fell in love, and were married within a year. They started a family and moved to Los Alamos around 1965, where they raised their three children: Deborah, Timothy, and George.

Once their youngest child started school, Joan and Mel bought their first restaurant, Tastee Freeze. While her family was always her 1st priority, she wanted to give her children—and the community's children—the opportunity to learn real-world life skills and a strong work ethic. She continued on this entrepreneurial path, owning several businesses over the years, until 2013, when she closed De Colores at the Gate, her most successful venture and her pride and joy. Throughout her career, she treated her employees like extended family, fostering a sense of loyalty and belonging that kept many of them by her side for years. During the Cerro Grande Fire, Joan and the local restaurant community volunteered their food services, adapting to the evolving crisis and developing a new system for providing mass meals to emergency personnel during fires and other disasters—an achievement significant enough to be recognized by People magazine.

Joan's greatest joy was her customers, many of whom became lifelong friends and stayed close even into her retirement. After a long and fulfilling career, she was finally able to spend more time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It would be remiss not to mention the many generations of beloved pets, including thirty dogs, three birds and two cats over a lifetime.

Joan was preceded in death by her father, Juan de Dios Apodaca; her mother, Rachel Sanchez; and her sister, Judith Merrigan.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Melvin, her partner of 66 years; her sister, Gloria Jean Brooks, and husband David; her cherished children and their spouses—daughter Deborah (James), son Timothy (Louise), and son George (Zoe); her adored nephew, John; her grandchildren, Dana, Ashley, Jeremy, Cody, Bryce, Kyle, Shiloh, and Josh; and her great-grandchildren, Darrow, Jeremy Jr., and Janae.

Joan will be inurned at Santa Fe National Cemetery in a private family ceremony. A public gathering will occur at a later date in Los Alamos for community to gather and share memories. Information will be updated with a public announcement. The Duran family respectfully requests privacy at this time, and would cherish any stories, photos and condolences be shared at www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com. In preference to gifts or flowers at this time, please consider enjoying a meal at your favorite local restaurant, or making a donation to an animal shelter in Joan's honor.