Friday, April 6, 2012

Tribute to Joann

Joann Mary Gariety Shipley, 67, a Fairfax County public school educator who retired in 2001 as the librarian of Franconia Elementary School in Alexandria died April 5, 2012 at her residence in Haymarket, Virginia. She had acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Joann Gariety Shipley was born June 5, 1944, and raised on a farm near Russia, Ohio. She was a 1962 graduate of Russia Public School and a 1966 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in elementary education. She did graduate studies in library science at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. After graduation in 1966, she began her teaching career at Huffman Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio. From 1968 until 1974 she taught for the Department of Defense Overseas School System spending two years teaching first grade on Okinawa at Sukiran Elementary and four years in Germany at Frankfurt Elementary No. 1. While teaching in Frankfurt, she met and married her husband, Jack Shipley, in April 1974.

After returning to the States in 1974, she resided in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where she was the school librarian at Carmichael Elementary. In 1979 she moved to Virginia and was a housewife and mother to her two daughters until she accepted a position in 1984 at George Mason University’s Fenwick library. She became the school librarian at Franconia Elementary in 1987. After retiring in 2001 she moved to the Piedmont community in Haymarket, VA, where she pursued her three passions—traveling, gardening and reading.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo A. and Theresa (Dapore) Gariety, and two brothers, Paul and Harold Gariety.

She is survived by her husband of the home; her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Terry Karras of Haymarket; and her daughter Jeanine and son-in-law Dave Smith of Woodbridge; her grandson, Jack Karras of Haymarket; a brother, Carl Gariety and his wife Esther Gariety of Russia, Ohio; a sister, Mary Ellen Thobe and her husband Jerry Thobe of Tipp City, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Iona Gariety of Versailles, Ohio; and many nephews and nieces and a host of loving friends.

Visitation will be at the Baker-Post Funeral Home, 10001 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA, on April 9 from 6-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, VA, on Tuesday, April 10 at 10:30 am. Joann’s ashes will be placed in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Joann requested that donations be made to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church building fund in lieu of flowers.

8 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jack: It is so sad to loose a good person such as Joann. The two of us had a fun time in blogging and I'm so sorry she has gone at such a young age. I know she will be missed by the family and wish you the best as you go through this time of reflection. Be sure that my prayers are with you during this time of remembrance of a wonderful life lived. Yours Tom

Melinda said...

As I have said before..I will miss Joann....this is a wonderful tribute to her..she had such an active, busy life. I had no idea she traveled as much as she had! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Patty said...

Dear Jack, sorry it has taken me so long to check back. Beautiful tribute you've posted for Joann, I know she would have loved it, also the song with Elvis singing is beautiful. My sympathy once again to you, your daughters and sons-in-law and Grandson. Patty & Abe

DeniseinVA said...

It is with great sadness that I learned of Joann's passing. I am so sorry for your loss. you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Susie of Arabia said...

Dear Jack -
I am so sorry to read about Joann's passing. I also apologize for the lateness of my message - I have not been able to visit other blogs like I used to. My own Mom passed away this past summer and I just haven't been able to devote the time to blog hopping as I once did. I always enjoyed the back and forth blog visiting and commenting we shared as we became cyber friends. I do hope you are doing well. Please accept my late but sincere condolences.

Unknown said...

Im trying to locate a "Joanne Spillane" who taught for the DEPT. OF DEFENSE SCHOOL district in Okinawa Japan around the years 1974 to 1978. She was an american from Massachusets?; watertown, maybe?? Ive exhausted all other searches, so hopefully SOMEONE can recognize her from this email and come forward to help me!!!

Angela Danehy
zzredangel@gmail.com

Unknown said...

My condolences. I went to Sukiran Elementary the years she taught there. I stumbled upon this blog looking for old pictures of Okinawa. It really opened up a flood of memories for me. Again, my sincere condolences for your loss.

Daniel Kaplan

Jack and Joann said...

Thank you, Daniel. When I met Joann in Germany she was dating a guy by the name of Harris Kaplan. I assume that you are not related, but found the name familiar.