Dear Friends,
 
We are sad to tell you that Joanna passed from this life this morning, Sunday, July 5, with family and her beloved Bella at her side. We are grateful that, up until the end, she was peaceful and without pain, and generally comfortable.
 
The messages you’ve written and recorded, the songs and music you brought in person or through media, the visits you paid—all these confirm that our mother lived a life of hospitality, friendship, kindness, and generosity, and was a powerful advocate for social justice. We know the light of your presence surrounded her during her final days and hours, and we are profoundly grateful to you for letting her know how she was loved.
 
As you are no doubt aware, holding a memorial service during a pandemic is a risky endeavor, especially for someone with the large circle of friends and extensive community that our mother had. For this reason, we intend to hold her memorial service at a later and safer date, when we can all gather and share food and stories around a table, which is the setting that our mother loved most in the world. We intend to hold memorial services in both Ann Arbor and Ames, so that all her friends who want to gather together to celebrate her life will be able to do so. Please fill out this form so that we'll be able to notify you about the date and time of the memorial service(s).
 
In peace, Joanna’s family