Daughter of the late Louis & Ann Smith
Wife of the late Ralph Whitener; Sister of the late John (Sue) Smith, Joe (Judy) Smith, Judy (Mike) Levitt Aunt to Shellie, Rob, Stephanie, Michael, Jennifer, Stephen
Great Aunt to Jay, Justin, Brayden, Emma, Claire, AJ, Jared, Mason, Grace, Caleb, Ava, Madison, and Brenden ;Great Great Aunt to Aria, Campbell, Crosby, and Ryker Special cousin to Pat and Jackie; Special friend to Margaret Hart, and many others
Joann lived her entire life in Dogtown. She was proud of her Irish heritage and neighborhood.
She was very active at St. James the Greater Church, and was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day you could find her in the gym at St. James decked out in green, serving her famous shamrock cookies.
One of her huge passions in life was hockey. She was the biggest St. Louis Blues fan around.
She was a 59 year season ticket holder, a founding member of the Blueliners Booster Club, and was a member of the NHLBC. She made many friends near and far through her love of hockey, and enjoyed seeing them each year at convention. She has been honored by the Blues on several occasions for her life-long support.
Joann also had a passion for baking. Family and friends knew to expect her cookie trays and banana nut bread every Christmas, even if you didn’t live close-by. If anyone she knew was having a birthday, she’d be ready with a cake. She enjoyed teaching her nieces and nephews to bake, and if you needed a particular ingredient, recipe, or baking tool you could count on her to have it.
Joann was known for her generosity, caring nature, and a deep love for her family, and the friends that became family. She will be deeply missed by so many. May we all carry on her legacy by helping others.
Services: Funeral from Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois, Tuesday September 29, 8:45 AM to St. James the Greater Catholic Church for 9:30 AM mass. Interment JB National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: St. James the Greater Catholic Church or Blues for Kids. Visitation Monday 3:00-8:00 PM.
My sweet cousin, Joann. I will miss our times together so much. Jo was so kind and generous and Number 1 Blues fan.. Love you, Jo. Cousin Pat
Joann was one speical lady. And yes, those Christmas cookies and breads were the best. What a great memory to cherish. She will be missed by many. My deepest sympathy.
I feel blessed to have had Joann as a friend. We met at work in 1967. She was generous and kind as well as fun. From St. Patrick’s Day to the Blues she was exciting because of the fantastic stories she would share. Her love of theater was evident when she and I as well as her cousin Pat attended the Muny and the Fox with the “Muny Girls “. But most of all Joann and I were friends and family for almost 60 years. She will be missed but never ever forgotten. God bless you always.
I loved speaking with her at our NHLBC conventions! She was a sweet lady who loved her St. Louis Blues. I’ll miss her.
Joann was a long time colleague of mine at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. She cheerfully and efficiently helped handle the finances. Her generosity, Blues fandom, Catholic faith, and Irishness was always on display. My son, who is a Catholic priest, will say a Mass for the repose of her soul.
Joann was my birthday buddy. When she started working at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute I discovered that we not only shared the same birthday but were also the same age. I will miss going to lunch with Joann and celebrating our birthdays together. Rest in peace dear friend.