The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos, who lost her husband John Vassos to pancreatic cancer in 2021, is preparing to meet the contestants on the show. After being married for 32 years and raising four children together, Joan felt ready to start dating again following a period of grieving. Joan explained that she did not want to spend her life alone, but found it difficult to navigate the dating world as a widow. However, after seeing a Golden Bachelor casting call on TV, she felt that the universe was guiding her towards a new opportunity.
Joan previously appeared as a contestant on the debut season of the Golden Bachelor, where she left the show during week 3 due to a family emergency involving her daughter. The season ended with the Bachelor, Gerry Turner, getting engaged to finalist Theresa Nist. Despite the couple splitting in April, Joan credits Gerry with teaching her valuable lessons about finding love on the reality show. She admired Gerry’s openness and vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of being authentic and not holding back in the pursuit of love.
Reflecting on her late husband John, Joan expressed gratitude for the wonderful life they shared together. She shared that she wanted to experience that feeling of being married again, but found it challenging to meet someone organically later in life. Joan felt that John may have played a role in her decision to join the Golden Bachelor, as he had given her his blessing to find happiness with someone else before he passed away. She struggled with feelings of guilt initially, but ultimately felt that John would have been supportive and proud of her decision.
On the third anniversary of John’s passing, Joan paid tribute to him on Instagram, expressing the ongoing pain of his absence and the fear of his memories fading over time. She fondly remembered John as a fun and loving parent who brought joy to their lives, and emphasized the importance of keeping his memory alive through stories and shared memories. Joan acknowledged that while some days felt like John’s passing had just occurred, she also feared that his absence might eventually fade from people’s memories. She encouraged others to continue sharing stories of John to ensure that he would always be remembered.
Despite the grief of losing her husband, Joan found comfort in the memories and moments shared with John. She emphasized the importance of honoring his memory by keeping his legacy alive through storytelling and reminiscing about the fun times they had together as a couple and as a family. Joan acknowledged that the journey of finding love again after losing a spouse was a challenging one, but she felt grateful for the support and encouragement she received from her late husband. She hoped to find a new partner who would respect and honor the life they had shared with John.
