Joan Linehan Forsthoefel

Joan Therese Forsthoefel was born in Assumption, Ohio on May 5, 1928 to Albert and Elizabeth Linehan. She was one of 8 children. Joan passed away peacefully in her Plymouth, Michigan home, with her family by her side on September 1, 2016, exactly six years to the day of her husband’s passing.

Joan was the beloved wife of the late Mark Henry for 58 years. Loving mother of Elizabeth (Edward) Roberge, Mark (Linda ) Forsthoefel, Joseph Forsthoefel, Thomas (Beth Gylys) Forsthoefel, Joanne Forsthoefel, and James Forsthoefel. Dear grandmother of Alexander (So Youn Lee) Roberge, Vincent (Gosia Nowinski) Roberge, Jacqueline Roberge, Whitney Forsthoefel, Carly Forsthoefel, Sarah Forsthoefel, Andrew Forsthoefel, Caitlin Forsthoefel and Luke Forsthoefel.

Joan was a Registered Nurse who was passionate about her Catholic faith and her Irish heritage. With Mark, she imbued the family home in Dearborn with values of devotion and service. Long-time parishioners of St. Alphonsus Church before moving to Plymouth, her life revolved around raising her children, doing home health care for neighborhood friends, and welcoming so many into her home. A wonderful cook, her children, relatives, and friends have unforgettable memories of freshly baked bread and rolls coming from the oven, roasted turkeys steaming on the cutting board, and the savory scent of chicken and dumplings gracing the kitchen. She was also a great baker, with a master list of greatest hits: cherry, pecan, apple, pumpkin and mincemeat pies, chocolate birthday cakes with brilliant buttercream frosting, and chocolate chip cookies that her children thrilled to discover on their way home from school. Joan’s kitchen reflected her love and became an expression of her inveterate hospitality and generosity.

Joan also loved to read and would often take her children and grandchildren to the library to teach her family to love and appreciate books as well. She was a great listener and made whomever she was talking to feel like they were the only one in the room. A lively woman, with a keen sense of humor, Joan loved people, and life, not to mention her favorite baseball team, the Tigers. Long patient and ever hopeful, Joan first enjoyed listening to the Tigers on the radio many years ago and then watched them regularly on television ever since. Joseph is the primary heir of her devotion to the Tigers and carries on with faithful attention to the team’s fortunes.

Joan will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Joan's family will receive guests for a Visitation on Sunday, September 4, 2016 beginning with a Rosary Service at 3:30pm. The Visitation will conclude at 8:00pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home 37000 Six Mile, Livonia, MI 48152.

The Funeral Mass will be at 11:00am on Monday, September 5, 2016 (In State 10:30) at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church 47650 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170.

Joan will be privately laid to rest with her husband Mark Henry in Riverside Cemetery, Plymouth, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to:

The Plymouth Public Library

Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan

333 Fort Street, Suite 2010

Detroit, MI 48226-3134

734-453-0750, ext. 4

http://plymouthlibrary.org/index.php/participate/contribute

The Michigan Humane Society

Development Department

30300 Telegraph Road

Suite 220

Bingham Farms, MI 48025

http://www.michiganhumane.org/

Angela Hospice

14100 Newburgh Rd, Livonia, MI 48154

734-464-7810

http://angelahospice.org/donate/

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