Obituary for Joan M. Symonaitis

Joan M. Symonaitis, 88, of the Perry Lutheran Home, Perry, died Saturday, August 22, 2009 following a lengthy illness. Memorial Mass: 10:00 AM Saturday, August 29, 2009 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Panora, IA with the Rev. Michael Peters officiating. The Cremation Society of Central Iowa is assisting the family. Joan was born Johanna Carew on January 12, 1921 in Kilpatrick, County Tipperary, Ireland to Edmond and Mary Ann Carew. She was among the middle of 13 brothers and sisters. Joan came to the United States when she was 18 years old and lived for a short time in the Sioux City, IA area under the guidance of close family friend Bishop Heelan. She later settled in Torrington, CT where she met and married Stanley Symonaitis on June 3, 1944. They had one son, Dennis John, born on March 28, 1945. Joan and Stanley lived most of their married life in Connecticut, first in Torrington, while raising Dennis and until Stanley''s retirement from the police department. Joan was a homemaker and a cook for St Francis Parochial School, where her son attended. She later worked as a cook for a local convalescent home in Torrington for many years. In 1980, Joan and Stanley moved to Ireland for their retirement years, but returned to the US in1981, settling in Bristol, CT. They moved to Panora, IA in 1999 to be closer to their son and family when Stanley became a resident of the Panora Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, due to failing health. Joan was an active participant there in volunteer tasks and encouraging her husband until she, herself, became a resident several years later. She later moved to the Perry Lutheran Home, where she lived until her death. Both Stanley and Joan developed Alzheimer''s Disease. Joan and Stanley had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and have been active members in the Catholic church throughout their lives. They especially enjoyed singing in the church choir. Joan enjoyed her family and friends and loved to sing and dance. She was known for the immaculate care she took of her home and flowers. She was also know for the compassion and care she offered to the children she served at school, the patients she served at the convalescent home, and those elderly friends she took on errands and appointments for years. Her smile and Irish laughter were so endearing. She was loved by so many, but especially her family. Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years on March 23, 2008. She is survived by her son, Dennis Symonaitis and his wife, Kathy, of Panora; granddaughter, Erin Pearce and her husband Michael; three great grandchildren, Marley, Cody, and Morgan Pearce of Urbandale, IA; and a brother, Michael Carew and sister, Kathleen in Ireland. She has numerous nieces and nephews in Ireland and in the United States. She will be greatly missed. Memorials may be sent in her name to the Alzheimer''s Association. Online condolences may be left at www.iowacremation.com under obituaries.