Joan Catherine Meitzler

1929-2012

Joan Catherine Egan Meitzler passed away the morning of June 15, 2012, at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital with her family by her side after suffering an ischemic stroke. She was 82 years of age. Joan was born November 2, 1929, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to the parents of Florentius Joseph Egan and Catherine Veronica Moessner Egan. She obtained her B.S. in Music Education at West Chester State Teachers College and was a music teacher in the Allentown public school system and was an accompanist for the Women Teachers Chorus. In June of 1953, she married Allen H. Meitzler, also of Allentown, and supported the newlywed household while Allen worked towards his Ph.D. In 1954, she received her permanent teacher certification in Allentown. In 1955, Joan earned a Master's Degree in Education from Lehigh University and shortly thereafter began a productive and rich professional music affiliation lasting 18 years as a piano accompanist and organist for the Masterwork Chorus of Morristown, New Jersey, where the couple had moved to months earlier. The Masterwork Chorus performed in many notable venues, including New York's Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Philharmonic Hall. While she was with the Masterwork Chorus, she enjoyed hosting her colleagues at festive lasagna dinners in the New Jersey family home that were a collaborative effort of several gourmands in the company. Joan's love and knowledge of liturgical music led her to take on multiple music positions over time, including principal organist, cantor and choir director during the years of 1969 to 1973 at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Morristown; organist and later principal organist at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ann Arbor from 1974 until the mid 1980s; and a guest organist at various Ann Arbor area Catholic churches. Joan was a member of the American Guild of Organists, the American Association of University Women, the American Federation of Musicians Local #177, and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. In 1970, she joined the Third Order Franciscans. Joan had absolute (aka “perfect”) pitch, meticulously saved nearly every letter she ever received, and was a lifelong fan of swimming, even serving as a lifeguard in her younger years. She adored her Steinway 1913 concert grand piano, both a musical and sculptural fixture of the household since 1963, as well as a more modern, concert-quality digital organ installed in the late 90s. She loved to travel, especially to the NJ seashore, and tell stories. Joan was a devout Catholic throughout her life and eventually became a minister of the Eucharist at University of Michigan Medical Center and at St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was also a chaplain volunteer at the University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital and at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. She would also later join the Secular Order of the Franciscans, serving as a Fraternity Lay Minister and Area Minister for St. John the Baptist Province. Joan is survived by her husband of 59 years, Allen H. Meitzler, Ph.D, who together with her, had lived and worked in Morristown, NJ until 1973, and later in Ann Arbor for over 40 years. And she is survived by her three sons: Thomas and his wife Carmelita and their two daughters, Melanie and Angelina of Troy, MI; Peter, of New York City; and David, residing in Ann Arbor. Joan is further survived by her oldest brother, Joseph Michael Egan II and his wife Sharon and their extended family. “Aunt Joan” was beloved to many cousins, nieces and nephews residing in the Allentown area. She was preceded in death by her younger brother Michael J. Egan III and her younger sister Nancy Egan Wieland. Services will be arranged by the Muehlig Funeral Chapel. A viewing will be held at Saint Thomas the Apostle Church on Friday, June 22, from 9-9:30am, followed by a Secular Franciscan Wake Service at 9:30am and a funeral mass at 10:30 am. A private graveside service will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.meitzler.org/joan