Obituary of Joanne Elizabeth Maier

 

 

On Monday, March 25^th, 2024, Joanne Maier, loving wife and mother of three children passed away at the age of 87.

Joanne was born on January 27^th, 1937, in McKeesport, PA to Frank and Freda Beck. She received her nursing degree from Saint Margaret Memorial Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA in 1957. Joanne married her love, Otto Maier from Philadelphia, PA on May 27^th, 1957 where they lived until 1962. Otto and Joanne moved to Santa Fe, NM in 1962 where she worked as an RN with Dr. Harris and Dr. Soldow in private practice for several years and then at the Santa Fe Correctional Facility before retiring in 1990. Otto and Joanne travelled for two years throughout the country in a large RV that they purchased before retiring for good in Albuquerque.

Joanne was a contributor to the community while serving in the Order of the Eastern Star, where she attained the rank of Worthy Matron in December 1969. Joanne was also an extremely talented craftsperson who won numerous ribbons at the New Mexico State Fair for quilting and needlework. She loved to create quilts, do needlepoint, and knitted and crocheted items for many family members over the years. This talent, her loving and caring manner developed through nursing, her feistiness and overall warmth endeared her to many family members and friends. When Otto passed away in 2004, Joanne became determined and was successful in being independent and self-reliant. She adopted and loved numerous dogs after Otto’s death. She also loved cooking and painting.

Joanne was preceded in death by her father, Frank, and her mother, Freda, and by her husband Otto. She is survived by her three children, Brian, Barbara and her husband Gary, and Bruce; her brother-in-law Bob and his wife Phyllis; her sister Lorrie Brooks and nephew Tom and niece Rebecca; her niece Carol Traum (whom she loved like a daughter) and her husband Ted; and several cousins, grandnieces, and grandnephews. No funeral service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be provided to the New Mexico Cancer Center in her name.

There will be a Celebration of Life on May 18^th, 2024, at a site in Albuquerque to be determined. The family requests that you let them know if you will attend by sending an email to joanncelebration@yahoo.com. (No “e” at the end of “Joann” in the email address.) We will share many memories of this wonderful and talented woman as well as share her recipes and maybe her own award-winning margarita recipe.

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