Joanna Grace Fisher

ORANGE - Joanna Grace (Leighton) Fisher, 77, of East River Street, died early Thursday morning, November 10, 2016 at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Healthcare-campus, in Worcester.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut on April 22, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Myron and Eleanor (Sampson) Leighton, and graduated from East Haven (CT) High School in 1957. While living in Orange, Joanna took classes at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner.
On January 30, 1998, Joanna married Thomas A. Harty after they had been friends since the early 1980's. They enjoyed 18 years of marriage until Tom's death on October 5, 2016. Joanna was previously married to Donald Fulford who died in 1960, and later married to Robert J. Fisher.
Joanna and her family moved to Orange in 1970 where she became involved in advocating for children, which she found challenging and enjoyable. She was a founder and director of Valuing Our Children in Athol, where she established the Nurturing Program there. She was the North Quabbin Community Coalition's sixth recipient of the ""Barbara Corey Award"" for her tremendous support and assistance with children in the North Quabbin area. Joanna also received a Children's Trust Fund Recognition award in 1999.
Joanna was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, wife and sister, who was very active in the community. She worked in the Orange Elementary Schools, sold real estate for Countryside Realty, worked in the Literacy Program and the Athol Senior Meals Program.
Joanna also was involved in her church, the South Athol United Methodist Church, a founder and member of the Pioneer Junior Women's Club in Orange, and editor and founder of the former Orange Oracle weekly newspaper. Joanna and her husband Tom had also designed and built five homes over the years.
Joanna shared Tom's love of hiking and joined him on numerous hikes throughout New England and the Grand Canyon. Even following an illness over three years ago which left her wheelchair bound, Joanna remained active, especially with Orange's New Year's Eve celebration, ""Starry, Starry Night,"" which she helped to found 21 years ago.
An avid knitter, Joanna tried to knit mittens for every child in Orange, so it seemed. She also enjoyed baking cookies for the Mahar Girls' Basketball teams, gardening, and simply just quietly helping others.
Survivors include her sons, Larry Fisher of Orange and Richard Fisher and his wife, Ely, of Sandwich; daughters, Kathleen Koonz and her husband, Dennis, of Orange, and Lucinda Costa and her husband, Jon, of Athol; grandchildren, Nathan Fisher and his wife, Brieanna, Matthew Fisher and his fiancée', Brittney Regan, Zachary Fisher and his wife, Jenna, Oliver Fisher, Robert Koonz and his wife, Jenny, and Steven Koonz; great granddaughters, Madyson Fisher and Krystina Barber; a brother, Gardner Leighton of Napa, California; her previous husband, Robert J. Fisher of Orange; a cousin, Clark Kearney who was like a brother to her, as well as several other cousins, all of Maine. Joanna leaves dear friends, Doris and Karl Bittenbender and Murray Mock, as well as many close friends.
She also leaves step-children, Janice Lanou and her husband, Carleton, of Orange, Thomas E. Harty and his wife, Gail, of Athol, Kathleen Harty and her companion, Ed Liukkonen, of Templeton, and Donald Harty and his wife, Rebecca, of Epsom, New Hampshire; also step-grandchildren, Karen Herk, Eric Harty, Derric Harty, Laura Harty and Sam Harty, as well as step great, grandchildren Matthew Herk, Andrew Herk, Shane Harty, Courtney Harty, Cassidy Harty, Brianna Harty, Jacob Harty, Gabriella Harty, Sierra Gomez and Ashley Richards; also, step great, great grandchildren, Mason Richards and Mia Richards.
Besides her parents and first husband, Joanna was predeceased by a daughter in law, Luann Fisher on November 9, 2014, and a step-grandson, Brian Lanou on August 23, 1991.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 3-6 p.m. at Witty's Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street,Orange.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the South Athol United Methodist Church, 65 Morgan Avenue, Athol, with Rev. Candi Ashenden and Rev. Judy Jones officiating.
Interment will follow in South Cemetery, Orange.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the South Athol United Methodist Church, c/o Zane Dubour, 3800 South Athol Road, Athol, MA 01331
Witty's Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is directing the arrangements.
You may offer your sympathy online at www.wittyfuneralhome.com