Obituary of Helen Joanna LaFurgey
Age 91, a lifelong resident of Mt Morris, died Sunday, July 11, 2021. A mass of Christian burial will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, July 16, 2021, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Morris. Rev. Fr. Roy Horning to officiate with burial to follow at Mt. Morris Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services in Mt. Morris. Family, friends, and parish will gather to pray the Rosary at 7:00 pm on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, Joanna will be taken to church to lie in state from 10:00 am until the time of mass at 11:00 am. Those desiring may direct memorial contributions in Joanna’s name to St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Morris. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting Joanna’s tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com.
Helen was born July 16th, 1929, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion and Fay LaFurgey. Her birth name is Helen, but everyone knew her as Joanna. Losing her father at the age of 5, she was raised by her loving mother and a long list of aunts and uncles who taught her the importance of family. It was a lesson she never lost sight of and passed on to her cousins, her niece and nephew, and her nephews’ children. Her brother and sister-in-law never had to pay for a babysitter as her niece and nephew grew up. Joanna would have been offended if they didn’t ask. As her great-nephew and nieces, Adam, Morgan, and Candice grew, Aunt Joanna made the trip every year to Grand Rapids for their first day of school. The three of them had the good fortune of having two loving sets of grandparents, and of course, Aunt Joanna. As she grew older and began relying on others for help, she never had to ask. All the people she’d been so good to over the years were always there for her. Outside of her family, she loved to be on a golf course or at a bowling alley. In fact, she left her mark on the lanes over the years with consistent 500’s. Joanna worked for Citizens Bank for over 50 years and was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mt. Morris.
Left to cherish her memory are niece: Karen and husband, Dennis Stevens of Flushing; nephew: Joseph and wife, Renee LaFurgey of Grand Rapids; great-nephew: Adam LaFurgey of Royal Oak; great-niece: Morgan and husband, Andrew Klein of Royal Oak; and great-niece: Candice LaFurgey of Grand Rapids; special cousins: Georgia and Mary Kay Monroe.
Joanna was preceded in death by her parents; brother: Allen “Jake” LaFurgey; sister-in-law: Barbara LaFurgey; and several loving aunts, uncles, and friends.
Joanna’s family would like to thank the staff at Symphony of Linden for making her comfortable in her final days, and Henry Mendoza, MD, for the extraordinary care he provided Joanna over the years.
Joanna's obituary was lovingly written by her family.