Joanne C. Girard

After a short illness, Joanne Girard, age 69, went home to be with the Lord on November 27, 2015. 

Born on January 19, 1946, she lived in Ellet/Springfield Township most of her life. She graduated from Ellet High School in 1964, and went to work as a secretary for Goodyear Aerospace Corp. and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. for 12 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her daughter, Cathy. While at Goodyear Aerospace, she met and married her husband of 45 years, Louis Girard, Jr. 

During the time she was home, Joanne also completed her college education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Akron. After her daughter was raised, Joanne returned to the work force as a secretary for the Akron Board of Education, before retiring in 2008 with 19 years of service. Joanne’s hobbies and interests over the years included roller skating in her earlier years, to skiing, softball, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, biking, camping, and travelling in her adult life. She particularly enjoyed participating in the Summit County Fall Walking Spree (18 years), owning and riding her horse, Zip, for 14 years, and camping with her husband and her daughter’s family in their travel trailer at the Ohio State Parks. 

Over the years, she and her husband visited 43 of the 50 States, including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as travelling overseas to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. One of Joanne’s favorite travel destinations with her husband was the National Parks, Sites, and Monuments, in which she visited 210 of the approximately 410 locations. 

During Joanne’s life she made many lasting friends too numerous to count, many who visited her during her sickness. The family cannot express enough thanks for their prayers and support. Her smile, friendship, and love of adventure will leave a void in many lives. 

Joanne was preceded in death by her father, John Kiehl; her aunt, Eleanor (Kawczk) Chapman; her uncle, Paul Kawczk; and her cousin, Steve Kawczk. She is survived by her husband, Louis Girard, Jr.; their daughter, Cathy (Girard) Pendleton; son-in-law, Ryan Pendleton; grandchildren, Ella and Clint Pendleton; her mother, Marie (Kawczk) Kiehl; her brothers, David Kiehl and his wife, Lydia, John Kiehl and his friend Patti, and Thomas Kiehl; as well as her aunts, Helen (Walt) Wuchich and Rosemary Nichols and their families, all who loved her very much. 

Visitation will be held at the Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron Ohio, 44312 on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2580 Berne Street, Akron, Ohio with Father Michael Williamson presiding. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Nonprofit Organization: www.CJDFoundation.org