Joanne Waugh Obituary

Joanne E. Waugh

Apr 6, 1929 - Dec 7, 2024

Norwalk

Joanne E Waugh, 95, of Norwalk, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. A loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was known to family and friends as "Grandma Jo."

She was the first of four children born to Loren and Marie (Pacey) Saunders in Deshler. Joanne attended Bowling Green Schools graduating high school in 1947.

She attended Toledo University and graduated from Toledo Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. Joanne worked at Toledo Hospital from 1950 to 1953 as head nurse. In 1953, she married her high school sweetheart, Fred Waugh, and they moved to Norwalk. She worked at Fisher-Titus as an RN part-time from 1953 to 1969 and raised her children, Jan, Tom, and Steve. When her sons were playing football, she was in the group of moms feeding the football team before games known as "Mother Truckers." In 1969, she worked at Huron County Health Department as a school nurse until her retirement in 1982. She became a grandma in 1979 and was the best grandma one could ever have. She opened her home to watch her grandchildren and other children of working parents for 16 years becoming known as "Grandma Jo" to all. She began serving for Fisher-Titus Auxiliary in 2000 and amassed 18,000 volunteer hours in 14 years. She worked in FTMC gift shop and sewed thousands of walker and wheelchair bags at home and heart pillows for cardiac surgery patients at St. Luke's Hospital. Joanne was an avid reader and an active member of Norwalk Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir for 50 years. She so enjoyed the fellowship of Methodist Women serving in Logos or First Kids, funeral dinners, and semi-annual rummage sales. She loved cross-stitching and listening to music such as big bands, the "Rat Pack," and light rock. Joanne was an avid bridge player, belonging to several groups, sometimes playing bridge three times a week.

She was preceded in death by her son, Steven F Waugh; ex-husband, Fred Waugh; parents, Loren and Marie Saunders; and sisters, Margie and Elaine.

She is survived by a brother, James Saunders; daughter, Jan Phillips and husband Paul; son, Tom Waugh and wife, Pam; grandchildren, Mike and Rachel Waugh, Amy and Rob Stowers, Jen and Brant Carroll, Betsy and C.J. Bossart and Marcus and Stephanie Waugh. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours are from 10 a.m. until the time of the 11 a.m. celebration of life ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home, 98 W. Main St. in Norwalk. Please wear your favorite color of blue (her favorite color). Luncheon at Rooted in Christ Fellowship Church, 2590 St Rt 18, Norwalk, following the celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in her name to Fisher-Titus Foundation, 272 Benedict Ave. Norwalk, Ohio 44857 or The Endowment Fund for Norwalk City Schools, PO Box 445. Norwalk, Ohio 44857.

The family wishes to thank Southern Care Hospice nurses, social workers and chaplain for their care of Joanne. Thank you to Fisher-Titus Home Health and outpatient speech therapy. Thank you to caregivers Amy, Jackie, Sue, Cathy, Emma and Robin. Also, thank you to family and friends who supported the family with their prayers and presence.

Online expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com