of Mountain Home, AR
February 7, 1939 - January 18, 2023
Janice Joanne Mahr, formally of Bristol Illinois, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, in Mountain Home, Arkansas on January 18, 2023 at the age of 83. Joanne was the devoted mother to her daughters, Michele and Angela. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Joanne was born on February 7, 1939, to Willard and Kathleen (Gallagher) Buckley in Sidney, Montana. After the unexpected passing of her father in 1945, her mother moved with her, her sister, and three brothers to Aurora Illinois, where she was raised at the child village of Mooseheart. She graduated from Mooseheart High School in 1956.
After graduation, Joanne worked at her first job as a secretary in downtown Chicago for the Burlington Northern for several years. In 1978, she joined the Fox Valley Park district as an Executive Secretary until her retirement. She loved working for the park district and considered her fellow workers her closest of friends.
When Joanne became a mother, first with Michele and then with Angela, she dedicated her life to being a wonderful mother. She was a constant supporter and biggest cheerleader for her girls. Her favorite role in life was that of being Grammy to Braiton, Zoie, Morgan, Mallory, and Joseph. They brought her great joy and she loved spending time with them.
Joanne loved to be busy and was an impressive seamstress, making all the girls' clothes when they were young and custom prom dresses in their teenage years. She loved knitting, crochet, and needle point. She was most passionate about her home, her flowers, her plants, and her yard. She was most often found working in her beautiful flower beds and visiting with all of her neighbors who she considered like family.
Joanne is survived by her daughters, Michele (Paul) Pierski, and Angela Holloway (Mike Ruter), her grandchildren Morgan, Mallory, and Joseph Pierski, Braiton and Zoie Holloway. She is survived by many nephews and niece as well. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Robert Buckley, and her sister Mary Helen (Buckley) Sinclair.
The family requests that all memorials be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memorial service will be private.
Mom/Grammy, you will always be in our hearts and we will never forget you. We love you so much. Rest in peace.