Joan Barbara (Napierala) Blochowski died peacefully on September 7, 2017 after succumbing to the treacherous disease, pancreatic cancer. She spent her last days without fear, surrounded by her family and friends at the Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Toledo, Ohio. Her Catholic faith gave her strength.

Joan was born on June 2, 1938 to Michael and Julia Napierala and grew up the youngest of 7 as a farm girl near Lyons, Ohio. She was a lively red head who graduated from Whitney High school in 1956, loved Elvis Presley and driving her 1956 baby blue Chevy. In 1960, she married Joseph A Blochowski (who preceded her in death) and they made their life together in Maumee, Ohio. Joan loved babies so much that she was a foster mom for newborns for several years and she and Joe eventually adopted their 3 children, Mike, Julie and Mark. Her life’s vocation was working as a nursing technician at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee but she considered her family- especially her 7 grandchildren - her greatest accomplishment in life. Mike/Kristin, Luke and Josh Blochowski; Julie/David, Emily, Sam and Ben Napier; Mark, Grace and Joey Blochowski; and Daisy her chihuahua, all survive her and will miss all 4’ 10” of her terribly. They will miss her quirky comments and looks, chatting with her while she crocheted and her undemanding and steady love.

The family would like to thank Hospice for the wonderful care these last 3 weeks as well as Carolyn Romaine for being her friend and for these last 8 months, her caregiver. Although Joanie loved flowers, we know she would want to help others receive the same loving care that she received from Hospice. As such, in lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice of Northwest Ohio at http://www.hospicenwo.com.

The visitation will occur at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo Ohio on Monday, September 11, from 6-8 pm with the Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, September 12, at St. Patrick's of Heatherdowns at 10 am.