Joanne Donovan

Joanne Louise Donovan, age 81, formerly of Lake Carroll, IL passed away peacefully on April 23, 2023 after a long illness. She was born on August 23,1941 in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Helen Sehr. Joanne was a 1960 graduate of West High School in Rockford. She married Patrick Donovan on October 5, 1963 and together they raised three children. Her husband preceded her in death on May 17, 2011.

She was a member of St. Wendelin Catholic Church in Shannon and the Freeport Painting Club. She was a CNA at Rockford Memorial in rehabilitation for over twenty years. Joanne loved garage sales, bargain shopping especially at “The Joint.” antiques, painting, cooking, baking, and spending family time with her children and grandchildren. She loved decorating her home with roses and dainty country decor. She loved Rod Stewart and Elvis. She would sing and dance to their music often. She had the pleasure of seeing Rod Stewart twice in concert.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband and over the years she and Patrick traveled to Alaska, England, Ireland, and Scotland. She became the “fisherman’s wife” cooking hearty country breakfasts to a full kitchen table of fisherman and friends of Lake Carroll.

She is survived by her son, Steven (Kim) Donovan; her daughters, Pamela (Jeffrey) Klarman and Katherine Donovan; her grandchildren, Christopher Klarman, Brittni (Nicholas) Malady, Danielle Ellis, Natalie (Gregory) Clough, Emily Klarman, Nicholas Ellis, and Betsy Donovan (finance Daniel); her great grandchildren, Brayden, Ireland, and Olivia; and her sister, Helen Powers and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Patrick.

The family would like to thank Azura Memory Care in Beloit, Wisconsin for their outstanding care for the past couple years and to Agrace Hospice for their compassion and comfort in her final months. 

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at St. Wendelin Catholic Church in Shannon at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at St. Wendelin Catholic Cemetery with a luncheon following at the church.