Obituary of R. Joanne Walch

Joanne Walch, loving mother and grandmother, 84, passed away on February 22, at the Hospice Care Center in Copley. Born in Cuyahoga Falls on October 20, 1925 to the late Rupert and Anna Flaherty, Joanne had been a lifetime resident of Cuyahoga Falls. She was a graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School and retired from Sears and Roebuck with more than 20 years of service. She was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Altar & Rosary, and worked to organize and prepare funeral luncheons for many years. She was also a member of the Little Guild. In addition to her parents, Joanne was preceded in death by her husband Ray in 2008; brother Robert and sister Geraldine. She is survived by her daughters Yvonne (Lee) Paulus of N. Canton, Diane and Larry Hovatter of Cuyahoga Falls, and Lynn Walch of Cuyahoga Falls; sisters Clare Yeomans of Cuyahoga Falls, Maxine Lease of Jackson Twp., and Mary Alice Alan of Mission Viejo, CA; grandchildren Mindi (Jeff) Carr, Michael (Emily) Hovatter, Aaron (Heather Shepard) Hovatter, and Kyle (Shelly) Mitchin; great-grandchildren Jack Hovatter and Sullivan Walch Carr. The family will receive friends Thursday from 4-8 pm at the Anthony Funeral Home MCGOWAN-REID & SANTOS CHAPEL (At 3rd st., one block north of Portage Trail in the Falls). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Interment will take place at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joanne's memory may be made to the St. Joseph School Library 1909 3rd st. Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. (Anthony Funeral Homes, 330.928.1313, anthonyfh.com)