Joanne Rubin

1933 - 2018

Joanne Rubin

7/4/1933 - 4/17/2018

The Rubin Family is mourning the loss of Joanne Rubin, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

During life, Joanne was engaged. As a 40 year survivor of breast cancer, she overcame the disfigurement of the disease and became a Chairmen of Lucas County American Cancer Society. She was engaged in leadership planning for innumerable social events, such as "The Chocolate Affair", "Jail and Bail", "The Annual Holiday Cookie Tin Sale", Call-A-Thons to raise money for breast cancer. She was a lifetime member of B'nai Israel Sisterhood, Hadassah and ORT. She always lended a helping hand at B'nai Israel or the local community by helping immigrant families make Toledo their home. She was a member of the Toledo Tennis Club, 3.5-4.0 Tail Tennis Team, Toledo Racquet Club, The Courts of Sylvania, West Towne Tennis Club, Gourmet Club, Toledo Botanical Gardens and President of the Quest Garden Club from 1997-1999. There, she developed her master gardening skills by growing beautiful "Peonies and Red Roses." She was a duplicate bridge player and hosted many tournaments at her home. As an avid Michigan Football fan, she and her husband, Sheldon, were season ticket holders for almost four decades attending the games every Saturday. She loved to cook, and with three boys and a daughter, did so on an industrial level. She canned pickles, and made fruit preserves and chutneys. She always dove in head-first, whether plumbing the occasional clogged pipe, repairing an electrical outlet or repairing a broken appliance, she never hesitated to take action. She loved to play her piano and put interesting chords together, never tiring of playing her favorite: "Moon River". She orchestrated family squabbles and mediated the occasional friend-of-the family dispute, acting as both armchair psychologist and marriage counselor. She was a great orchestrator - performing all with a glint in her eye. She preserved the traditions of the family and made sure, above all else, that her children knew and loved each other, as much as she loved them.

But, more importantly, Joanne was the spark that kindled the flame. The light that brightened the room. The smile that seeded the laugh. It was in her nature to be part of everything, infusing her charm into any situation, family matter or social frivolity. She was a charmer, snake charmer, mind reader, magician and soothsayer. Joanne was so much larger than life. The disease that eroded her slowly stripped her of her faculties. But, even at the end of her life, she was still smiling and happy, singing a song and holding on to your hand, as if to say that everything was going to be ok.

Joanne always made an impression.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Sheldon Rubin and is survived by her children, Brent (Ricki), Daryl (Ellen), Kevin (Debbie), Dana (Tom) Devers; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Estelle Epstien, of Cleveland, OH.

The Funeral Service is being held at Wisniewski & Wick Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., with processional to the Beth Shalom Cemetery on Otter Creek Road in Oregon, OH. Thereafter, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the family will be sitting shiva at the home of Dana and Tom Devers, at 4356 Holt Road in Sylvania, OH and Saturday after four, and all day Sunday. Contributions can be made to the Toledo Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Association of NW Ohio Chapter or Jewish Federation of Toledo.



View the online memorial for Joanne Rubin7/4/1933 - 4/17/2018