Joan Markham

Joan (Joni) Irene Markam passed away peacefully with her family by her side on April 1, 2022 at the age of 83.  Joni was born at home in Erie, Pennsylvania on December 21, 1938.  As a child, she lived her earliest years with her late parents, Gertrude Grumblatt Markham and Howard Asdale Markham and two brothers, Howard and James in Erie.  As a high school student, she lived on a small farm with her family, further expanded to include sisters, Diane and Rebecca and brother, Allen in Waterford, Pennsylvania.  After high school, Joni attended Slippery Rock State Teacher’s College for a couple of years and then worked for the telephone company while living in Erie.  In her 20s she moved to Phoenix and took vows in the Loreto Sisters order and lived in the Sacred Heart convent in Prescott.  As a nun she completed her education degree and became a teacher.  Leaving the convent after nine years, she continued as a very popular teacher in Phoenix.  In 1999 Joni moved back to Pennsylvania and lived in the Meadville area.  In 2008 she received the teacher of the year award from the Pennsylvania READ Project.  Following retirement, her love of people was fulfilled by being very active at the Meadville Senior Center.  In July 2018, she moved to Edinboro Manor Nursing Home in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.

In addition to her parents, Joni was preceded in death by her late brothers, James and Allen.

She is survived by sisters, Diane and her husband, Lester Malinowksi of Waterford and Rebecca and her husband, Harry Lanagan also of Waterford and her brother, Howard and his wife, Patricia Ruggiero of Palmyra, Virginia.

Memorial donations can be made to Active Aging, 1034 Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335.

Please sign Joni’s online guestbook at www.hatheway-tedesco.com .

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hatheway-Tedesco Funeral Home and Crematory, 614 Baldwin St., Meadville, PA 16335.