Gwen Viann Owens Duncan was born November 10, 1955, in Houston, Texas. She grew up on a small farm near Tomball, Texas, graduated from Baylor University School of Nursing in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and completed a Master of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University in 1989.
On September 2, 1978, Viann and Courtney B. Duncan were married in Dallas, Texas, and in 1987 they moved from Texas to La Cañada, California. Since moving to California, they have been members of Pasadena Covenant Church in Pasadena.
After working in hospital nursing and later psychiatric nursing, Viann joined Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing, where she was a psychiatric nursing professor and clinical instructor for the last twenty years of her career. Her students, colleagues, friends, and family all experienced and were made better people by the amazing love and devotion she exhibited for other human beings.
Following a three-year struggle with metastatic breast cancer, Viann passed from this life peacefully on August 7, 2023, around sunset, at home, surrounded by family and friends. Her heart was always right with God from her conversion as a youth. As in all of her relationships, once committed, she never wavered.
Viann is survived by her husband Courtney, three adult children, and one grandson; sister Elizabeth Skemp and brother Michael Owens; and two nieces and one nephew.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Viann’s memory may be made to the Pasadena Covenant Church Capital Campaign Sanctuary Building Fund (https://bit.ly/VODmemorial). Please write “In memory of Viann O. Duncan” in the Notes section before donating.
