Joan "Joni" (Rodriguez) James, 77, of Northeast Kansas City, MO, passed away Friday, December 12, 2025, at North Kansas City Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Services will be held on Tuesday, December 23, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of plants, we would appreciate donations made in honor of Joan to the KC Pet Project .

Joan was born April 15, 1948, in Northeast Kansas City, MO. She attended school at Thacher Elementary school, Northeast Junior High, and Northeast High School, class of 1966. Joan loved to travel with her family, motorcycle road trips, and doing all the crafting and sewing imaginable with and for her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents Alfred "Bill" and Idamae (Travalent) Rodriguez; grandparents Frank Travalent and Rose (Palmesano) McArdle; her brother William Rodriguez; niece Valerie Levens; brother-in-law Joe Morano; and fur babies Gizmo, Gizette, Chewbacca, Angel, Trouble, and Esmeralda.

Joan is survived by her husband of 40 years, Lynn James; siblings Rosemary Morano, Diana Bennett, and David Rodriguez; children Phillip White (Lisa), and Jason White; fur baby Rocky; nieces Maria Johnston (Sean), Alicia Wheeler, and Nicole Weston; nephew Michael Levens; grandchildren Jessica, Lauren, Danielle, Jace, and Jenna; great-nieces Domonique, Chanelle, and Jay; and many more cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers: Domonique Johnston, Jessica White, Chanelle Johnston, Lauren White, Danielle White, Jay Johnston, Jace White, and Jenna White.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com