Joan (Borah) Venters

Joan Venters, age 84 of Ridgway, went to be with the Lord on June 26, 2017, following a brief stay at Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi, IL.  Joan, known by all who knew her as Ma, leaves behind amazing memories and examples of love and family for all of us.  She was born in St Louis, Mo on September 12, 1932.  She married the love of her life, Leroy, at age 15, and began the life of love that we all know on June 26, 1948.  She worked at the cabinet factory in Shawneetown, and Blevins Popcorn Factory in Ridgway, and raised her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all the love that she had.  She passed away peacefully on her 69th wedding anniversary, knowing that she had made it, and then closed her eyes to join Pa in their celebration in heaven.  From the time that her husband retired in 1993, Joan and he traveled and lived every day like it was their last.  They took care of grand kids and great grand kids and spoiled them all.  They traveled almost weekly just to visit family and friends close by.  They also traveled to many states.  They went sightseeing in Washington DC, New York City, Niagara Falls, and Branson, Mo to name a few.  They also visited family and friends in Ontario, Seattle, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Utah, and anywhere else they took a notion to go.  They included as many children, grandchildren, and siblings as they could to join in their many adventures.  If you ever sat down at Ma’s kitchen table, you were family.  She made coffee, offered you anything you might ever desire to eat, and she would laugh and talk and visit as long as you stayed.  She was up for playing cards or 42 anytime, and made any and all feel right at home.  Ma’s kitchen table holds more laughs and tears and stories than any of us could possibly tell.  The love she had was and is evident in all those that knew her or her family.  Ma leaves behind a legacy that is a tall order to fill.  She is survived by 2 children, Dan (Pam) Venters, Roberta Funkhouser; 5 grandchildren: Treva Bandy, Stephanie (Jeff) Disney, Brent (Brigit) Venters, Chris (Megan) Funkhouser, Chad (Erin) Venters; 8 great grandchildren:  Izak and Erick Bandy, Gage and Harley Disney, Joselyn, Anison, and Blaine Funkhouser, and Levi Venters.  She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Delaney, and her brother Richard (Jackie) Borah, and countless nieces, nephews, and extended family.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband Leroy, her parents, John and Flora Jackson Borah, son in law Joe Funkhouser, and brothers John, Leo, Kenny, and Lowell Borah.  Services will be at Vickery Funeral Chapel in Ridgway on Saturday, July 1, 2017.  Family visitation will be from 11 am until noon.  Public visitation from noon until service time at 2 pm.  With interment at Jackson Cemetery near Ridgway.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wabash Christian Retirement Center in Carmi, IL.  Envelopes will be available at the service.