Jo Ann Kirk

1931 - 2016

Jo Ann Kirk
York
Jo Ann Kirk (Jo), 84, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on October 6, 2016, in York, with her loving family at her side. Jo was born December 2, 1931, in Sesser, IL to Marie and Humbert Gualdoni. They raised Jo and her two younger siblings (Charlene and Charlie) in Chester, IL. Jo attended Loretto's Academy High School in nearby St. Louis, MO, graduating in 1949 and went on to complete a year at Webster College (now University).
At age 15, Jo met the love of her life and her future husband, Maxie Lee Kirk, at the Chester Swimming Pool, where he was lifeguarding. It was love at first sight. They married in 1950. Max served in the U.S. Navy and then had a long and successful career in sales. Jo was his devoted and loving wife for 59 years, until Max's passing in 2009. They raised four children, settling the family in York, where Jo lived until her death.
Throughout her life, Jo was known for unrestrained kindness and devotion to her family and friends, her church and the charities she supported. Her siblings remember Jo as the much-loved big sister who as always there for them and slow to anger. Her children celebrate a mother whose words were spoken softly, but carried great weight because of her love, intelligence, attention to detail and humor. Her grandchildren recall a Nona (grandmother) who would get down on the floor to play with them, meeting them at their own level with an endless supply of both sweets and patience and would do anything to play with them. Her friends were life-long and were treated like family. Jo was known for remembering them with cards on all occasions, to celebrate, comfort and encourage. Jo's family says that she made their lives easier just by being in them. She taught them many things, from cooking to cross stitch, but most importantly, how to be better people. She was a wealth of knowledge and a great but firm teacher.    
Jo threw herself into community life with equal enthusiasm, volunteering to help with fundraisers at St. Joseph's Catholic Church and School. She was employed at Catholic Social Services-Catholic Charities and at Big Brother Big Sister, retiring from the latter in 2009 at age 77 with 33 years of service. In retirement, Jo continued volunteering at St Joseph's, adding Martin Memorial Library to the groups she supported. Years ago, tiring of the question "What do you want for your birthday, Christmas, etc.?" Jo asked family members to make donations to The Catholic Harvest Food Pantry in lieu of gifts. It was a favorite charity for both Jo and Max, and it began a family tradition of giving that continues today.
Jo loved to play games; she loved puzzles, games like Scrabble and Guesstures, making cookie brittle, which was given as little surprises and as a way of saying thanks. She loved her family, her friends, playing bridge, and helping people. In return, Jo was beloved by all who met her. She took the time to engage in others' lives, visiting when a new baby arrived, always looking out for others' best interests. Jo's heart was big, brimming with love, especially when friends and family came to visit and check on her after she lost Max.  
Jo is survived by her sons, Michael Kirk (Cyndy Drummey) and Gary Kirk; daughters, Michele Kirk (William Martin, deceased) and Cindy Kirk Dohner (Eric); sister, Charlene Runge; brother, Charles Gualdoni; and seven grandchildren: Kaitlin Grimes, Zach Dohner (Amy), Lewis Kirk, Devon Grimes, Jacob Dohner, Nancy Kirk, and Elliot Weinstein. 
In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, 628 East Market Street, York, PA 17403 to the attention Chris Pollick; or to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of York & Adams, 227 West Market, Street, Suite 102, York, PA 17401
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 6 p.m. for Jo Ann Kirk with a visitation  from 4 to 6 p.m. on October 28, at John W. Keffer Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 902 Mt Rose Avenue, York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on October 29, at St. Joseph Church, 2935 Kingston Rd., York. A lunch gathering will be held immediately after the service at Wisehaven Hall, 2985 East Prospect Rd., York, PA 17402.