Joan Phyllis Ross, 82, of Fairmont, passed away Sunday Oct. 30, 2022, at her residence with her family by her side after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease. She was born on Dec. 12, 1939, in Fairmont, daughter of the late Thomas and Gazella Wozniak Harker Sr.
Joan was a lifelong member of St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, where she belonged to the St. Jude Guild and the Altar and Rosary Society. She also belonged to the Parish Council at the church and was a PTO Board member at Fairmont Catholic Grade School.
Early on, she worked as an executive secretary to Dr. Feaster at Fairmont State College where she was involved in the planning and development of the Feaster Center at the college. Later on, Joan would help her husband, Robert, operating the Ross Funeral Home and the Walnut Avenue Nursing Home.
She is survived by her daughter, Joanna Marie Ross, of Fairmont; two sisters, Patricia Corcoglioniti, of Mount Clare, and Flora Lee and husband Roy Henderson, of Waynesboro, Va. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Ross, in 2009; one sister, Mary Elinor (Claude) Watkins; and one brother, Thomas (Alice) Harker Jr.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at United Hospital Center, WVU Hospice and caregivers Sharon Proctor and Judy Hendricks for all the care given to Joan during her illness.
The family would also like to thank the office of Dr. Amy Everett and Associates for their love and support throughout this difficult time.
Friends may call at Ross Funeral Home, 801 Fairmont Ave., Fairmont, from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday and from noon-8 p.m. on Friday. The Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 5, with Father Dr. Sojan Xavier as celebrant and Deacon David Lester. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery.
A vigil service will be held at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WVU Hospice, 12 Rousch Drive, Westover, WV 26501, St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 407 Jackson St., Fairmont, WV 26554 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.
Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Savonarola, Brad Summers, Joseph and Dominick Corcoglioniti, Anthony Caruso and Dr. John Jezioro.
Condolences:
www.rossfh.com
