JoAnn Long

JoAnn Long (nee Manchak) 71, of Munster, IN passed away on February 3, 2007. The daughter of immigrants from Czechoslovakia the late Charles & Anna Manchak; JoAnn is survived by her husband: Charles; daughter: Kirsten (Ken) Walker and brother: Deacon Joseph (Patricia) Manchak.She attended Holy Cross School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana, receiving her diploma in 1958. After a stint as Nursing Assistant on the Surgical Patient floor at St Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, IN, she became Office Nurse for Dr. Carolyn M. Rawlins in her Obstetrical-Gynecologic practice in Hammond, IN. In 1964 she left this employment and devoted her full time at home to volunteer service. At one point, however, she spent two years as Secretary to the Development Director at Bishop Noll Institute.JoAnn was active in many facets of volunteer life, beginning as a teenager providing service in the Panel Room of St John the Baptist Church in Whiting, and culminating as the first Chairman of the newly-formed Pastoral Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary. Also, she led a troop of fourteen Girl Scouts (that included her daughter) through the formative years to ultimate completion of the Marian Award (Catholic girls’ equivalent of Eagle Scouts for boys). Further, for twenty years she led the Art & Environment Commission of St Thomas More Church, guiding the creative abilities of the Commission's membership to enhance worship during the Christmas & Easter seasons. She had sewing craftsmanship talents in her fingers, creating custom garments for men & women, providing dresses for brides, bridesmaids, and flower girls. The sewing talent includes completion of numerous banners for worship enhancement, prepared jointly with a close friend. She pioneered in a Religious Education program for St Thomas More Church providing theological background for small groups of high-school students in various homes. She was active in the Spirituality & Worship Commission of St Thomas More, serving as group chairman for two terms; she has served as Eucharistic Minister and Lector, most recently as Coordinator of the Lectors’ schedule. She particularly enjoyed singing with the St Thomas More Funeral Choir. She was an involved member of the Bishop Noll Mother’s club during her daughter’s attendance at the school. She served three terms on the St Thomas More School Board of Education and two terms on the St Thomas More Pastoral Council (one term as Chairman). With her best friend she co-chaired two of the BNI Emporium Galas as well the NWI Symphony Gala of 2006. She was a member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Society, where she gave much time to committee work. She also involved herself with committee activities in the Northern Indiana Arts Association (now South Shore Arts). Further, she belonged to the former Junior Association of St Margaret Hospital (Hammond, IN), serving a term as President and acting as Chairman of one of the fund-raising dinner-dances. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday February 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM from St. Thomas More Church, Fr. Michael Yadron officiating; Visitation will be on Friday from 3:00-8:00 PM at Kish Funeral Home 10000 Calumet Ave. (next to Fitness Pointe) Munster, IN with a prayer service at 7:00 PM and Saturday from 9:30 -10:00 at the church. Memorial contributions to St. Thomas More School Endowment in her memory would be appreciated.