AUSTINTOWN – Joanne L. Rhoades, 77, passed away unexpectedly Monday evening, March 11, 2019, at the emergency room at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital with family by her side.

Joanne was born May 5, 1941, in Hadley, Pa., a daughter of the late Al and Virginia Uber Hazen, and came to this area with her family as a child.

She was a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and worked in the kitchen at Sleigh Bell Nursing Home. She then worked for 25 years as the "housemother" for the Youngstown Developmental Center, retiring in the early 2000s.

Mrs. Rhoades was a member of the former Christ Church. She enjoyed playing cards, Yahtzee, going to Mountaineer Race Track & Casino, reading, and working crossword puzzles. She also loved bingo, watching soap operas, and spending time with her family.

Joanne leaves four children, David (Brenda) Rhoades of Troy, Ill., Dale (Julie) Rhoades of Crownsville, Md., Deborah Rhoades of Austintown, and Dana (Dwayne) Learn of Austintown, with whom she made her home; 15 grandchildren, Kristin, Kelsey, Kimberly, Jonathan, Jennifer, Diana, Greg, Danielle, Emily, Kenny, Ryan, D.J., Amanda, Samantha, and Justin; nine great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Nathan, Sophiana, Gregory, Joshua, Willow, Wyatt, Colin, and Isaiah; and a brother, John (Mary Ellen) Hazen of Poland.

Her husband John P. Rhoades, passed away April 9, 1988. A sister, Carole Hernandez, and a brother, Kenneth Hazen, are also deceased.

Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 15, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Rd. Youngstown.

Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, at the funeral home, and committal services will follow at Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Austintown.