Joan Emalie (or, as she often misspelled it, Emilie) Fitzpatrick, 68, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. She was surrounded by family at the time of her passing.
Joan was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and retired nurse known for her love of coffee, crafting and peacocks. She graduated from the Knox County Career Center in 1982 as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). She graduated from Hocking Technical College in 1990 with an associate degree in nursing and became a registered nurse (RN). She retired from the Ohio Department of Corrections.
Joan was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Gladys Yates; her sister, Carolyne Nice; and a nephew, Todd Pahel.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 45 years, George “Butch” Fitzpatrick; her daughters, Jodi Thorpe (Kris) and Julie Hawkins (fiancé Kenny McFarland); her grandchildren, Kierra and Dalton Dye (Leila); great-grandson, Camden; and step-grandsons, Austin (Sara) and Levi Thorpe. She also leaves behind a step-daughter, Stacie Cremeans (fiancé Wayne “Buford”); a step-grandson, Paul Cremeans (fiancée Jayne); her sister, Arlene Tokar (Bill); and several nieces and nephews, including Arlene’s children, Annette and Carl, and Carolyne’s children, Kathy, Kenny Loren, Mark and Shawn. Joan freely included people into her definition of family, so she leaves behind a number of loved ones too large to include.
The family wishes to thank Kindred Hospice for their care and support in transitioning.
Pursuant to Joan’s last wishes, she will be cremated. Her family will take a trip to the Outer Banks, where some of Joan’s fondest memories were created, and spread her ashes on the beach. A local memorial service is to-be-determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you leave a generous tip for your waiter or waitress, as this is something Joan greatly enjoyed doing.
Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society in Mansfield assisted the family with arrangements.
