Joanne K. McCarthy

Joanne Kathleen McCarthy (nee McCarty), passed away peacefully, September 13, 2025, in Berkley, MI.

Joanne was born October 9, 1932, in Milwaukee, WI, and was the eldest of four children of the late Josephine and James McCarty.

Joanne was surrounded by her large Irish family in Wisconsin, enjoying summers at the family cottage on Big Cedar Lake. Joanne attended Holy Angels High School and graduated from Marquette University. At Marquette, she met John Hugh "Jack" McCarthy, who was attending on a ROTC scholarship. Following graduation, they were married on August 27, 1955 and moved to North Carolina, where Jack was stationed at Camp LeJeune. Joanne and Jack eventually settled in Detroit, raising five daughters, always stressing their Catholic faith and the importance of education. Joanne worked as an elementary teacher and served with various charitable organizations. Joanne will be remembered for her kindness and generosity to her family and her love of spy novels, Marquette basketball (Go Golden Eagles!), being Up North near the Great Lakes and dogs.

Joanne is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Jack, brothers William "Bill" and James B. "Jim" and sister Mary Ellen McCarty.

She is survived by her five daughters, Mary McCarthy, Meg McCarthy, Anne Murphy (Tim), Jean Rogers (John), and Ellen McCarthy, eight grandchildren, Patti Anderson (Russ), Kathleen Rosa (Zak), Steven Truant (Ann), Sarah Schwendeman (Vernon), Matthew Schwendeman, Laura Schwendeman, Maria Murphy, and Jack Murphy, nine great-grandchildren, Avery, Jane, Brady, Lucy, Jack, Joseph, Kara, Mary, and Theodore, and many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as her favorite dogs Charlie and Peanut.

Joanne's family would like to extend a special thanks to Casey and Keisha of Henry Ford Hospice for their care and kindness during her illness.

A private funeral service will be held for Joanne at Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home.

Joanne will be laid to rest next to her husband, John "Jack" McCarthy, at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek, MI.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Detroit Rescue Mission or Forgotten Harvest, using the links provided.

A celebration of her life will follow in the Summer of 2026 in Northern Michigan, where her whole family will come together to remember her.

Please keep the McCarthy family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.