Jo Ann Broussard

Jo Ann Broussard, née Simmons, 73, passed away peacefully in Ann Arbor on Feb. 15, 2025, after a short bout with cancer. She was born in Berrien County on Sept. 24, 1951, to Laura Jean Simmons, née Hagerman, and Frank Rogers. At the time of her death, she lived with her daughter, Tiffani Lauren Rachelle Broussard.

Jo Ann Broussard graduated from Oakwood University's School of Nursing in Huntsville, Ala., in June 1975. She married Phillip Norman Broussard on Dec. 28, 1975, at the Niles Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Jo Ann was an OBRA registered nurse who worked in and around Berrien County. She worked in various areas of nursing, including floor nursing, supervisory work and OBRA compliance, until she retired from Riverwood Center in Benton Harbor, in September 2022.

She loved gardening, antiquing, cooking soul food, listening to music and caring for people and her rescue cat, Mink. She was a loving mother, adored daughter, sister and a caring and devoted wife.

Jo Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Phillip Norman Broussard; her father, Lynn D. Simmons Sr., and her stepbrother, Leon Delano Simmons, PhD.

She is survived by her daughter, Tiffani Lauren Rachelle Broussard; her mother, Laura Jean Simmons; her sisters: Lynette Simmons Hoag and Laurice Simmons Kennel; her stepbrother, Lynn D. Simmons Jr., and her second husband, Ronald Rucker. She is also survived by her nieces: Lena Simmons Winfree and Lorna Simmons Mainess and her nephews: Charles Simmons and Eric Michael Hoag.

A private family funeral service will be at South Berrien Center Union Church and Cemetery, a historic church and cemetery in Berrien Township. A celebration of life service will be held in September of this year in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Flowers should be sent to Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, 734-302-1000 by Feb. 25, 2026. Donations can be made to Animal Services, 1400 S. Euclid, Benton Harbor, MI 49022, 269-927-5648.