Joanne N. Appeddu

Joanne (Haisch) Appeddu passed away at the age of 74 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on August 22, 2012 having reached the end of a long and fulfilling life. Joanne was born in Ann Arbor on April 12, 1938. She graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. Joanne then attended the University of Michigan where she earned both a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and an Elementary School Teaching Certificate, and where she met her husband. While at Michigan, she was a member Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and maintained a lifelong relationship with her sorority sisters in the Toledo Chapter. After taking time off to start her family, she later earned her Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Toledo. Joanne was a teacher and librarian in the Mason Consolidated, Perrysburg, and Toledo Public School districts, and an instructor at the University of Toledo. She completed her career as the librarian at Bowsher High School in 2002. Joanne was dedicated to educational excellence. She cared for her students as if they were her own children, encouraging them to graduate and to continue their education. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa international honorary organization for women educators, in which she held various officer and committee member roles. One of Joanne’s favorite projects was administering the ADK local chapter’s scholarship program for area high students desiring to pursue a career in teaching. So important was this program to her, that Joanne personally presented the awards and congratulated each recipient individually. In addition to her community service and career, Joanne was an active member of the Toledo U of M club, and was a B.S.A. Cub Scout Den Mother at St. Rose Church. Joanne loved to travel, visiting all 50 states, Canada, and many countries in Europe. She also chaperoned student tours to Italy, Greece, France and Japan. One of her fondest memories was the family cruise to the Caribbean in 2009. Her lifelong passion for reading, history, and raising flowers was a source of happiness. She was very artistic with remarkable talent for creating displays and albums. The most important people in Joanne’s life were her husband, children, grandchildren, and family. She will be greatly missed and remembered as a caring wife and loving mother, grandmother and sister. She held on to life during her extended illness to see her grandson graduate from high school and enter college, and until she had an opportunity to impart her advice and wisdom to each of her grandchildren during their recent visit. Joanne is survived by Peter, her loving husband of 51 years; sister Nancy (Haisch) Purigraski and husband Milan (Buzz) of Stuart, FL; son Paul Appeddu, Ph.D. and wife Vivian of Houston, TX; daughter Lisa Appeddu, Ph.D and husband Jason Johnson, Ph.D. of Weatherford, OK; son-in-law David Treadwell, Ph.D of Austin TX; grandchildren Philip and Gabrielle Appeddu; cousins George Fletcher and Virginia Parisho; and nieces Cynthia Bethke, Cathleen Klotz, Jennifer Barnes, Pamela Piekney, and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Dorothy (Stoll) Haisch, daughter Teresa (Appeddu) Treadwell, and sister Norma (Haisch) Ashby. The Appeddu family is grateful for the gentle and compassionate care provided by the staff of Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, during her final days. The family also wishes to thank Kathy Gerace and Cindy Sampson for their excellent healthcare and kind support for the past nine months. Friends will be received from 2 to 8 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012 at Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary St., Perrysburg, OH (419)-874-3133 where a prayer service will be at 7 pm. Prayers will be recited at 9:15 am in the funeral home on Saturday, September 1, 2012 followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. in St. Rose Catholic Church with burial in St. Rose Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a memorial luncheon at the church following the graveside services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church or to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551.