Joann Lovdahl Herrity

Herrity, Joann Lovdahl Age 92 years old, passed away on January 28, 2015 in Mars, Pennsylvania, where she lived in Concordia of Cranberry, near her daughter, Jean Herrity. Born October 3, 1922 in Crosby, Minnesota, the middle child of Alma (Johnson) and Arthur Lovdahl, she attended St. Mary's Hall in Faribault, MN (now Shattuck-St. Mary's) and Vassar College, where she graduated in 1944 majoring in music and history. She married the late George Herrity in 1944 after meeting on a blind date in her sophomore year. George deferred graduation for several years from Yale University while serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flight instructor during WW II. After the war, George returned to Yale and graduated with a Master of Forestry degree. Following moves to Washington state and Texas, they settled in Michigan, where they raised their four children. They had homes in Grand Rapids and on Crystal Lake in Frankfort, Michigan. Joann was the founding director of Cascade Christian Nursery School for 25 years. Over the years, she was the organist, choir director, lay minister, altar guild and vestry member, and Stephen Minister at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. She was proud of being awarded the Bishop's Service Cross. Joann was a 65 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and cherished all her friends there. She played tennis and bridge into her 80s and loved the adventures she had with the Women's Athletic Association. Joann was accomplished at knitting, needlepoint, counted cross stitch, English smocking and sewing. Her hands were never idle. And neither was her mind. She loved to travel and learn and participated in many educational trips and book discussion groups. She was active in the Cascade Historical Society and was an officer of the Cascade Friends of the Library. She is survived by her four children, George (Mary) Herrity, Portage, Michigan, Catherine Herrity (David Paterson), Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Jean Herrity (Joe Mazziotti), Mars, Pennsylvania, and Margaret Herrity (Michael Congdon), Brooklyn NY; eight grandchildren, Cameron Hubley, Jon Herrity, George Herrity, Kyle Herrity, Stewart Kerns, Kelsey Herrity, Seth Congdon and Will Congdon; four great granddaughters; sister-in-law Carol Lovdahl, nieces and nephews. Joann was preceded in death by her husband, George, her sister, Barbara Braendle, brother, Jon Lovdahl, and niece, Barbara Baker. Joann's family is grateful for the exceptional care given to her by everyone at Concordia and a special thank you to Annie, her faithful and loving caregiver. Many thanks also to Fran and Liz, her caregivers when she lived in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The Herrity family invites friends to celebrate Joann's life at a memorial luncheon on Friday June 12 at 12:30 PM at Heather Hills, 1055 Forest Hill SE Grand Rapids 49546. She will be buried at Cascade Cemetery.