JoAnn Bourez

JoAnn was born on May 4, 1935 in Royal Oak, Michigan, daughter of the late Wendell and Delta (Hutchinson) Kelly. She graduated as valedictorian of Rochester High School’s class of 1953, and then earned her bachelor’s degree as valedictorian at Central Michigan University. JoAnn was an English teacher and counselor at Lake Orion Middle School for 34 years, retiring in 1997. Along the way she earned her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Oakland University. JoAnn married George McVeigh on August 27, 1955. She was remarried to Dick Bourez on May 5, 1979 at Paint Creek United Methodist Church. JoAnn and Dick were together for 40 years.

A longtime resident of the Rochester Area, JoAnn had a wonderful impact on the community by serving on the Board of Directors of many local organizations including: the Oakland Township Historical Society, the Rochester Community House, the Avon Players, the Rochester Tuesday Musicale, and the Rochester Symphony Orchestra Association. She was a musical director or soloist for 26 Broadway musicals at Avon Players, was a longtime soloist for the Rochester Community Chorus, the Rochester Red Stocking Revue, and the Christian Science Church, and was a choir director at three of our local churches. JoAnn volunteered at the Rochester Library, the O.P.C., and at several nursing homes and hospitals doing music therapy.

JoAnn was predeceased by her husband Dick Bourez, her parents, and siblings Anne Kennedy and Michael Kelly. She is survived by her children David McVeigh and Susan (Michael) Wood, grandchildren Aiden McVeigh and Alana McVeigh, sisters Curtis (Bernard) Gudobba and Elizabeth (Michael) Stone, niece Gretchen Semble, nephew Carl (Beth) Semble, along with numerous loved ones, friends, and students.

JoAnn’s family will welcome guests for a memorial gathering on Wednesday, December 29th, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 West University Drive in downtown Rochester. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 30th at 10 a.m. at Paint Creek United Methodist Church, located at 4420 Collins Road in Rochester. Burial will follow at Paint Creek Cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to the Paint Creek United Methodist Church in JoAnn’s memory.