RIDGWAY -- Joan Venters, 84, went to be with the Lord on June 26, 2017, following a brief stay at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi.
Joan, known by all who knew her as Ma, leaves behind amazing memories and examples of love and family.
She was born Sept. 12, 1932, in St. Louis. She married the love of her life, Leroy, at the age of 15 and began that life of love on June 26, 1948.
Joan worked at the cabinet factory in Shawneetown and Blevins Popcorn Factory in Ridgway, and raised her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all the love that she had.
She passed away peacefully on her 69th wedding anniversary, knowing that she had made it, and then closed her eyes to join Pa in their celebration in heaven. From the time that her husband retired in 1993, he and Joan traveled and lived every day like it was their last. They took care of grandkids and great-grandkids and spoiled them all.
They traveled almost weekly just to visit family and friends close by. They also traveled to many states. They went sightseeing in Washington D.C., New York City, Niagara Falls and Branson, Missouri, to name a few. They also visited family and friends in Ontario, Seattle, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Utah and anywhere else they took a notion to go. They included as many children, grandchildren and siblings as they could to join in their many adventures.
If you ever sat down at Ma's kitchen table, you were family. She made coffee, offered you anything you might ever desire to eat, and she would laugh and talk and visit as long as you stayed. She was up for playing cards or 42 anytime, and made any and all feel right at home.
Ma's kitchen table holds more laughs and tears and stories than anyone could possibly tell. The love she had was, and is, evident in all who knew her or her family. Ma leaves behind a legacy that is a tall order to fill.
Survivors include two children, Dan (Pam) Venters and Roberta Funkhouser; five grandchildren, Treva Bandy, Stephanie (Jeff) Disney, Brent (Brigit) Venters, Chris (Megan) Funkhouser and Chad (Erin) Venters; eight great-grandchildren, Izak and Erick Bandy, Gage and Harley Disney, Joselyn, Anison and Blaine Funkhouser and Levi Venters.
Other survivors include her sister, Ruth Delaney; brother, Richard (Jackie) Borah; and countless nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leroy; parents, John and Flora Jackson Borah; son-in-law, Joe Funkhouser; and brothers John, Leo, Kenny and Lowell Borah.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 1, in Vickery Funeral Chapel in Ridgway. Interment will be in Jackson Cemetery, near Ridgway. Family visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home; public visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi. Envelopes will be available at the services.
Internet condolences may be sent at www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com.
