Joanne I. Rees

Joanne was born born April 3, 1921 in Detroit, Michigan. The daughter of Mary Anna and Frank Havlena. She lived in Detroit with her brother, George, until her father died. She then moved to Oklahoma with her family , where she graduated from Yukon, OK high school and then went on to Wesley Hospital School of Nursing. Joanne married Floyd Rees in 1942, during World War II. She was a homemaker and Mom for several years, and then went on to work as an RN in industry for several years. She returned to college when she was 55 and obtained an Associate of Nursing Degree in Nursing in 1978. She was one of the first women at Larue Carter Hospital to obtain a specialty certification in Psychiatric Nursing. After retiring from Larue Carter at age 65, she went on to work at Central State Hospital and then for a Women's Wellness Clinic as a counselor. Joanne loved animals and rescued any little creature in need. She belonged to the Indianapolis Humane Society, as well as volunteered for the Indianapolis Public Library, Channel 20 Public Television, and the Indianapolis Literacy League. She is survived by three children, Patricia Lynne Rees, Michael Craig Rees and Kevin George Rees, as well as five grandchildren and eight grandchildren. Memorial Contributions may be made in her name to the Humane Society of the United States.