Joanne (Rett) St. Aubin

  Joanne St. Aubin, age 93, died May 5, 2023 at Frontida Assisted Living in Kimberly after suffering a stroke. Joanne was born in 1929, in Akron, Ohio. She met her future husband, Patrick St.Aubin, there, and married him in 1952.  He preceded her in death in 1999. We like to believe that they are together again, sitting on lawn chairs on the driveway, listening for birds.

   Joanne used her artistic skill to design her own wedding dress, paint the wooden birds her husband carved, and create birthday cards for her family. If she gave her children any advice it was to say, ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.’

  She felt her neighborhood of Van Buren Street in Little Chute was perfect for raising kids because all the families helped one another.

    Joanne volunteered at her youngest child’s school and for the local library. She was a member of two card clubs, crocheted constantly and could beat anyone in Scrabble. She was a longtime member of St. John Nepomucene parish in Little Chute and sang in the church choir. Joanne kept a photo of the Pope on her fridge. Her favorite song was Josh Groban’s “You Lift Me Up.”

    Joanne and Patrick had nine children all of whom survive her, and another child, John, who died at birth. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Doug), Michael (Barb), Roseann, Dennis, Annette (Dave), Jean, James, Joseph and Brian (Jodi). She loved her grandchildren Angie, Jenny, Matt, Amanda, Emily, Kevin, Ben, Hannah, Morgan, Claire and Paul. She was proud of how kind and smart they grew up to be. Joanne had six great-grandchildren, too. They are Matteo, Serena, Emory, Elowyn, Henry and Griffin. Joanne remained close with her sister-in-law, retired Maryknoll nun Sister Rose Patrick.

    Part of Mom’s heart remained in Ohio, where her sisters Barbara (Chuck) and Marilyn (Dick) still live. Her brothers Tom (Dolly), Bob (Donetta) and Jim (Chris) were always in her thoughts.

  Joanne is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick, baby son John, her parents, Helen and Walter Rett and her mother and father-in-law, Matilda and Amos St.Aubin, as well as her beloved sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol and Jim Jameson.

   The funeral liturgy for Joanne will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 411 Vandenbroek St, Little Chute, with Fr. Ron Belitz officiating.  A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Please visit www.verkuilenfh.com for online condolences.  In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established in Joanne’s name.

   Our Mom was the hub of our wheel, our home base. If you knew her, perhaps you could light a candle, play some Josh Groban, and remember to always say something nice, or say nothing at all.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.