Joan D. Berta

Joan Berta passed away on October 1, 2022 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana. She is survived by her children Marsha and Ric (Mary) Berta, her grandchildren Desiree (Luke) Warner, Dustin (Jenny) Berta, Danielle (Philip) Konstantine, Maggie (Brad) Gendel, and Lauren Berta, and her great-grandchildren FinLee and Adeline Warner, Nate Berta, Cullen and Finley Gendel, and Torrhen and Dahlia Konstantine. She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Pearl Crawford, her father, Durwood Crawford, and her brother Robert "Bud" Crawford.
Born Joan Crawford, she grew up in South Bend. A member of the Glee club, Joan graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School in 1951. She married after graduation and had her children, Marsha and Ric, soon after.
She briefly moved to Arizona before returning to South Bend in the late 1970's. Over the next 40 years, Joan helped look after her grandchildren as well as nannying for multiple families. In her 70's, she started working the aftercare program at The Montessori Academy, earning the nickname "Grandma Joan." Joan took great pride in watching and cooking for the kids who stayed after school.
Joan was a homebody in her later years, enjoying slow walks with Daisy, the family Great Pyrenees, cuddles with the family cats, Patches and Maverick, lunches with her late friend Lois, and chatting with her good friends Barbara and Becky on the phone. She also enjoyed making kieflies every Christmas, a tradition she shared with her granddaughter Maggie.
Joan enjoyed cooking and baking. She was known for her banana bread, pumpkin bread, and snickerdoodles. Whenever anyone came over she insisted on feeding them. Joan was also an artist. She made countless stained glass pieces, sometimes drawing her own designs and she enjoyed hand painting china.
Joan was a constant in all of our lives. After beating cancer and coming out of multiple surgeries, we didn't think it was possible she would ever leave this world. After almost 90 years, she leaves us all with a hole in our hearts. We are lucky to have known and loved her and know that she will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.
A memorial is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 Kemble Avenue, South Bend, Indiana. To leave an online condolence, visit our website http://www.zahoran.com or our facebook page Zahoran Funeral Home.
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