Joan M. Shannon, nee Abernathy, 82, of Belleville, Ill., born April 4, 1942, in East St. Louis, Ill., passed away November 22, 2024 at the Belleville Healthcare Center.
Joan was a life-long resident of the Metro East, growing up in East St. Louis and O’Fallon. She was a great mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother. She raised five children.
Joan had a calming, engaging, caring, kind, and gracious personality which was very much appreciated by others. She was primarily a homemaker but also worked as a food demonstrator and a U.S. Census Bureau technician.
Joan was an exceptional cook, and she excelled at numerous arts and crafts, especially crocheting. Joan spent countless hours volunteering at local schools. She enjoyed gardening and had a knack for completing crossword puzzles in record time.
She was preceded in death by her parents James Abernathy, Elisabeth Abernathy, nee Macovey, daughter Kathleen Heinlein, great-grandson Hudson Schwarz, brothers James Abernathy Jr., Ronald Abernathy, Robert Abernathy and sister Mary Ann Reay.
Survivors with fond memories of her include her children, sons Robert F. (Judy) Shannon III of Lebanon, Ill.; Jeffrey (Cristy) Shannon of Philadelphia, Penn.; Patrick Shannon of Fairview Heights, Ill., and Mike (Sarah) Shannon of Jefferson City, Mo.; brother Walter of Caseyville, Ill.; sisters Patricia “Pat” Smith of Mobile, Ala., Rita Poser of Winslow, Ark.; grandchildren Justin (Megan) Shannon, Robert Shannon IV, Katie (Carl) Schwarz, Brooke Heinlein, Lance Heinlein, Nikki (Sam) Staggs, Dustin Mosby, and Megan Brandmeyer, their families, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Condolences may be offered at www.wfh-ofallon.com. Memorial donations are suggested to St. Clare Catholic Church and may be mailed to the funeral home at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’ Fallon, IL 62269.
The family is having a private visitation at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, and she will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh, Ill.
