JoAnn Forizs

JoAnn Forizs, 81, of North Liberty, passed away on Sunday morning, September 17th at home with her loving family by her side.

JoAnn was born on June 21, 1942, in South Bend to Marshall and Nina M. (Feece) Holycross. On October 3, 1982, she married the love of her life, John L. Forizs Jr., in South Bend. They shared almost 32 years together before his passing in 2013.

JoAnn was a lifelong and avid fan of the Fighting Irish and the Chicago Bears. She loved to travel and dreamed of going to Ireland one day. She also loved her farm and raising her goats. She was a leader within 4-H. She was loved by so many, and she loved everyone. JoAnn never met a stranger and once she met you, you became family. She was the matriarch of her family and loved them all so much.

JoAnn is survived by her children, Lori (Lee) Hagedorn of North Liberty, Jamie (Prabhat) Kharga of North Liberty, Jeff (Jennifer) Schrader of South Bend, Lisa (Robert) Pham of Rensselaer, New York, Minh (Yen) Nguyen of Long Island, New York and Ted Clark of Plymouth. JoAnn was the proud grandmother of Kristy (Jerry) Brennan, Eric Bueno, Libbi, Joe and Zack Schrader, Maya Kharga, Giang (Lynda) and An Nguyen, Victoria Morris, Vivian and Violet Nguyen, and Olyvia Clark. She was also the great grandmother of Mari, Matthew and Mason Brennan, Sophia, Isabella and Amelia Nguyen.  She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Pam and Brenda Forizs, along with numerous nieces and nephews, who she also loved as if they were her own. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sons, Ricky and Kevin, along with her siblings, Harry (Flo) Holycross, Marshall (Kay) Holycross, Linda (Mick) Burns, Raymond Holycross and Kathy (Derle) Holycross-Wing.

Friends may visit with the family on Friday, September 22nd from 11:00am until 1:00pm in the Hanley and Sons Funeral Home, 23421 State Road 23, South Bend. A service celebrating JoAnn’s life will be held at 1:00pm in the funeral chapel. She will be laid to rest at the Sacred Heart Cemetery of South Bend at a later date.

JoAnn’s family wishes to thank the staff and doctors with the Hospice Foundation for their compassionate care given to their mother. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are requested to be made to the Center for Hospice 112 S. Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563.

The HANLEY and Sons Funeral Home “Southwest Chapel” and Cremation Service is handling arrangements and extends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the Forizs family and friends.  To leave an online condolence or to share a memory, please visit http://www.hanleyandsonsfuneralhomes.com.

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