Joann Osterhoudt

Joann Osterhoudt, 60, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away aboard a commercial airliner approaching Albuquerque, New Mexico after a long, painful and heroic struggle with lung cancer on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Joann, the eldest of ten children, was born Joann Cowher in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on September 11, 1949 and was a 1967 graduate of Penns Valley High School, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania. She married Gary Osterhoudt of State College, Pennsylvania on January 9, 1968 and gave birth to her daughter, Tammy Jo, later that year. Joann had an incomparable work ethic and held many responsible and challenging positions throughout her long and distinguished working life. She worked in the jewelry, clothing, grocery and transportation industries, was an office manager, a payroll manager, and a dental assistant and co-owned a merchandising franchise, variously in Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma and Arizona. She was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She kept an immaculate home and made splendid meals with tireless generosity for her large family and many friends. She was at the heart of her environment; no one will be more deeply or more authentically missed than "Jo." She is survived by her beloved husband of 42 years, Gary Osterhoudt, of Chandler; her daughter Tammy Jo Barkley, of Papillion, Nebraska; Tammy's husband, Jim, and their children, Madison Jo, and Zoe Grace, also of Papillion, her mother Helen Cowher, of Millheim, Pennsylvania; her brother and sisters, Doug, Rick , Robert, Charles, Brenda, Sue and Buddy, all of central Pennsylvania; her mother-in-law, Rita Osterhoudt of Springfield, Ohio. her sisters-in-law, Althea Cowher of Woodward, Pennsylvania, Janet Cowher of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, Beth Cowher of Woodward, Pennsylvania, Nancy True of New Carlisle, Ohio, Kerry Osterhoudt of Tempe, Arizona, Barbara Osterhoudt of Sun City, Arizona and Terry Brouse of Lewistown, Pennsylvania; her brothers-in-law, Bob Osterhoudt of Sun City, Arizona, Bill Osterhoudt of Mesa, Arizona, Ed True of New Carlisle, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona. Memorial Services for Joann will be conducted by Rev. Clyde Reed at Valley of the Sun Chapel, 10940 E. Chandler Heights road, Chandler, Arizona on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.