Obituary of Joann Delores Martin

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Joann Delores Martin, 82, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, March 18th, 2018.

Joann was born February 16th, 1936 to Lowell and Thelma Fred in Kankakee, Illinois. After moving to Niles Michigan, she graduated from Brandywine High School and later married Ernest E. Martin in Angola, Indiana on May 1st, 1954. They celebrated 63 wonderful years of marriage while raising their three children together.

To follow her passion, she graduated from the Academy of Beauty College and Purdue University, earning degrees in Cosmetology.  She worked in the cosmetology field over 40 years, as both cosmetologist and instructor, a career she loved beyond her retirement.  Joann enjoyed antiquing, Elvis songs and movies, family holidays; sporting events family participated in, watching cooking shows, anything Amish, visiting with friends, Sunday church services, holiday decorating and reading from her massive cookbook collection. She collected angel and saint statues as well. She also loved giving her time to help in charity activities and functions. For years she participated in the Relay for Life in Niles, Michigan as a breast cancer survivor herself. Joann was an avid church-goer and inspiration to her family. Strong and caring, she often gave more of herself to others than worrying about her own needs. She is loved deeply and will be missed dearly.

Joann is proceeded in death by her parents Thelma and Lowell Fred, grandson Joseph E. Martin, father and mother-in-law Jess and Melba Martin, in-laws; Joseph Nemeth, Douglas Martin, John Martin, Darlene Fred, Dorthy Martin, and Allene Martin.

Joann is survived by her husband Ernest E. Martin of Niles, their three children; Pamela Ann Martin,  Ernest E. (Julie) Martin II and Brian T. (Alexis) Martin all of South Bend, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; Seth Freyer (Marleigh), Sarah Snyder (Nathaniel, Emma Grace, Abigail), Cecilia and Steve Wroblewski (Alex, Olivia), Lia Martin (Niya),  Jasmine Martin (Gabe Seastrom), all of South Bend, Deven Martin, of Niles, Genesis Martin, of Minot, North Dakota, Ryzen and Braiya Martin of Lacey, Washington, brothers; Sonny Fred and Gail (Karen) Fred, sisters; Bernadette Nemeth and Brenda (Jim) Shearman, and brother-in-law, Carl Martin, numerous nieces and nephews and her closest, dearest friends, Bill (Red) and Jean Mack.
          
 A time of visitation will be on Wednesday evening, March 21st from 6:00pm to 7:00pm at Brown Funeral Home, 521 E. Main Street, Niles.  Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, March 22nd at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 52473 S.R.933 in South Bend, Indiana, with a luncheon immediately following. Father Michael Belinsky will be officiating.

 Her family would also like to extend a very special, heartfelt thank you, to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, for all the wonderful care given our mother and family and to Brown Funeral Home for handling every detail of this difficult process for our family.
 

 Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation. (ww5.komen.org)