Obituaries

Sun Prairie - JoAnn A. (Berends) Donahue, age 88, passed away on August 31, 2022. She was born on August 21, 1934 in Glenwood City, WI to Henry and Cecelia (Rosciszewski) Berends. JoAnn was born the youngest of 10 children and grew up on the family farm. She married Joseph Thomas “Tom” Donahue in 1955, and the two celebrated 66 years of marriage prior to Tom's passing in 2021.

JoAnn and Tom began their married life in Vadnais Heights, MN, before moving to Madison, WI, where they would raise their family. JoAnn dedicated much of her life to raising their 7 children and caring for their grandchildren as well. JoAnn's family was the light of her life and she was a selfless and devoted mother.

JoAnn enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, playing the slots, entertaining, and after dinner walks. But most of all, she enjoyed being surrounded by her family. JoAnn was a generous and compassionate volunteer, spending time serving meals at Luke House, delivering cards and flowers at St Mary's Hospital, collecting and delivering donations for local pantries, taking communion to the sick and many more acts of love and kindness.

Over the last 25 years, JoAnn was robbed of her physical freedom by Parkinson's Disease. What that didn't take from her, was her great sense of humor. She was the master of the one liners and loved to laugh until she cried.

JoAnn is survived by her children, Kathleen (Doug Hafeman), Madison, WI; Timothy (Kim), Corona del Mar, CA, Maureen (Dick) Smith, Rio, WI, Jeffrey (Rhonda), Windsor, WI, James, Madison, WI, Patrick (Jill Bottoni-Alioto), Lyme Ridge, WI, Kelly (Matt Schroedl), DeForest, WI; grandchildren, Amanda, Katherine, Mitchell, Ellen, Erin, Casey and Devin and great-grandson, Henry. She is further survived by sisters-in-law, Evie Berends, Marguerite Maloney, Helen Hintz and Helen (Riley) Donahue and dozens of nieces and nephews.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Donahue; parents, Henry and Cecelia Berends; sisters, brother and brothers-in-law, Dolores (Harold) Lechner, Elaine (Hub) Cress, Adeline (Ralph) Larson, Adelaide (Lemoine) Brathal, Angeline (Melvin) Olson, Vivian (Cassius) Booth, Audrey (Willis) Smith, Francis “Slim” Berends, Arliss (Fred) Warmuth.

Thank you to the many nurses and doctors at SSM Health and SSM Hospice, who provided JoAnn with compassionate care since last November. Lastly, thank you to those who provided her daily care at Parkside and Talamore. We are forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St Jude's Children's Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 23, 2022 at ST. MARY OF THE LAKE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5460 Mary Lake Road, Westport, with Monsignor James Gunn presiding. Visitation will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 22 at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, as well as, one hour prior to the Mass from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Friday at the church. Interment will follow the Mass at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Avenue 608-249-8257