June 5, 1962 – March 20, 2026
Johanna Marguerite Hamel passed away peacefully in Arcata, CA, on March 20th, 2026, from pancreatic cancer. She will be remembered for her wit, her friendship, her integrity, and her parties. Her many friends and loved ones deeply appreciated her positivity and that she truly lived life on her own terms.
“JoMama” Hamel was born in Wingdale, NY, on June 5th, 1962, to Hanora Ita Hamel (Dore) of Limerick, Ireland, and Armand Anthony Hamel of Wingdale, NY. A high school valedictorian and 3-sport all-county athlete, Johanna went on to play field hockey at Brown University. Upon graduating, she bought a one-way ticket to California and never looked back. She had a blast bartending at the comedy club The Other Cafe in San Francisco where the likes of Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres were regulars, and then moved to remote southern Humboldt County, started a family, and built a homestead on 40 acres with a panoramic view of nothing but nature.
Johanna’s values drove her lifestyle – she worked in solar energy to learn how to build her house off-grid, and in sustainable building materials so her home could give more than it took from the land she loved. An expert landscaper, her vast gardens remain stunning. She contributed constantly to her community, coaching any team that needed it and teaching countless kids how to dribble a basketball – memories that made her smile until her last day. In 2016, she drove a truckload of medical supplies to Standing Rock to support those protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline and worked in the base camp providing childcare, sports, and games for the kids whose parents were on the front line. Much of her renown in Humboldt County and beyond was as a radio DJ, most notably on KMUD where she hosted “JoMama’s Blues” for 35 years, making it the longest-running blues show west of Chicago.
Johanna maintained friendships with folks of all ages and from all walks of life. She could always be relied on to show up, work hard, and find humor in any situation. She had much to be thankful for and reflected in her final days on some of her proudest moments, including her children’s university graduations from Brown, Stanford, UC San Diego, and Columbia, seeing her son purchase his first home, and watching her daughter represent the United States in the 2022 Rugby World Cup. Above all, she felt at peace knowing her family is safe, happy, and loved.
Johanna is survived by her son Connor (Anna Kashtanova) of Oakland and her daughter Evelyn (Daniel Leyva) of San Diego; grandchildren Jade Ashenbrucker, Kieran Leyva, and Baby Leyva (on the way!); sisters Clare Santora of Massachusetts and Yvonne Miller of Kansas; nieces Alexandra, Amanda, and Elizabeth; and great-nephew Hudson.
She is also survived by her life partner Katy Stern of Arcata, with whom she shared decades of love and laughter; Zack Stern (Eden Golub) of McKinleyville, and granddaughter Eleanora Stern.
She is preceded in death by her mother Ita, her father Armand, and her brother Cornelius. In lieu of flowers, her wish is that donations be made to the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation toward their youth summer camps.