Joan C. "Callihan" Ball

Joan C. Ball, 80, a well-known lifelong Chicora resident, passed away unexpectedly at her home Sunday evening, August 24, 2025.

Joan was born in Chicora on August 25, 1944. She was the daughter of the late Samuel and Gertrude Waltman Callihan.

Joan was a lifelong member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora. She was a 1962 graduate of Fairview Twp. Karns City High School. She was a devoted homemaker in her earlier years and was employed in the banquet service at the Butler Days Inn and retired as the food service department manager at Dassa McKinney Elementary School in the Moniteau School District. Joan had a special place in her heart for our nation's veterans and was a life member of the Auxiliary, Post 117 American Legion in Butler, a life member of the Auxiliary, Post 6827 VFW, St Petersburg, FL, as well as a 41 year member of the Women of the Moose in Chicora.

Joan looked forward to the company of friends and family, playing trivia, and her favorite holidays, of Christmas, St Patrick's Day, and Halloween. In her retirement years, Joan spent winters in Florida and loved when her friends and family visited. Nothing was more important than her seven granddaughters and her two great granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. "Bob" Ball on July 3, 1989. The couple was married at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church on December 28, 1961.

Surviving are two sons, Robert "Rob" Ball, and his fiancée, Deb Schulte of St. Petersburg, FL and Darin C. Ball and his wife, Danielle, of Mars. Joan was affectionately "Nana or Grandma Joan" to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Victoria Ball of Baltimore, MD, Olivia Ball of Melbourne, FL, Sophia Ball of Milford PA, Alixandra Balestra and her husband, Alexander, of Ft. Wayne, IN, Elizabeth Ball of Indianapolis, IN, Gabrielle Ball of Ft. Wayne, IN, Katherine Ball of Mars; two great granddaughters, Penelope and Sylvie Balestra; her brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Donna Callihan, Michael and Donna Callihan, Brenda Callihan, Judy Callihan, Elaine Callihan, Phyllis Everly, Linda Slater, Kathy Ball, all of Chicora, and Melanie Rieger of West Sunbury, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Ed, Paul "Coffee Pot", Sidney "Hurricane", Bernard "Bean", and Richard "Dick" Callihan, as well as a number of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great nephews.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, Chicora, with the Rev. Matt McClain, pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish, officiating. Interment will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora. Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org. The woman of the Moose will conduct a memorial service Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.