The Life & Legacy of Joeann Washington

Joeann Washington was born on October 25, 1952, in Akron, Ohio, to Lovell Ruple and James Abrams. From an early age, Joeann possessed the strength, determination, and heart for serving others that would remain with her throughout her life.

Her strong work ethic began at the tender age of 12, when she started working alongside her mother at Ruple’s Restaurant in Akron. Growing up in Akron, Joeann attended Akron Public Schools and proudly graduated from Buchtel High School.

Joeann went on to build a remarkable career defined by hard work, leadership, loyalty, and service. She worked as a Laundry Supervisor at Cuyahoga Falls Hospital for 30 years and later served for 13 years at Akron City Hospital.

Never one to stop learning, growing, or giving, Joeann eventually discovered another passion—caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. She brought that same compassion and dedication to ViaQuest, where she became a loyal and faithful employee and touched the lives of the individuals entrusted to her care.

Joeann continued working at ViaQuest until she learned that she was ill. Even after a lifetime of working and caring for others, she remained dedicated to serving people for as long as she was able—a true reflection of the strength, compassion, and incredible work ethic that defined her life.

A Wife, A Mother & A Light to Many

In 1988, Joeann married Donald Ray Washington, beginning a marriage and partnership that would span nearly four decades. Through the years, Donald was an important part of the life Joeann built and the family she treasured. Together, they experienced the many seasons that come with sharing a life—building a home, raising a family, celebrating life’s joys, weathering its challenges, and creating memories that became part of their family’s story.

Their marriage became the foundation of a family that meant everything to Joeann. After 38 years of marriage, Donald remains an important part of the life and legacy she leaves behind.

In 1990, Joeann’s life was forever changed when she became the mother of her beloved daughter, Raichelle Washington. Motherhood was a role Joeann carried with immeasurable love, wisdom, strength, protection, and pride.

Anyone who truly knew Joeann knew that her motherly love could never be contained within the walls of her own home. She became a mother figure to many, a confidante to many, and a friend to many. She was a source of wisdom, comfort, guidance, and encouragement to countless people throughout her life.

Raichelle learned at an early age that she would have to share her mother with others—not because Joeann loved her any less, but because Joeann possessed the kind of light that naturally drew people to her. When someone needed advice, encouragement, a listening ear, a lesson, or simply somewhere safe to land, Joeann was there.

She was truly a class act.

Joeann was the kind of woman who could teach you something while still being willing to learn something from you. She was giving without needing recognition, wise without making others feel small, and the kind of person you could sit down and talk to about almost anything.

She was one of the best people to call when you needed honest advice, a different perspective, or simply someone who would listen. Her presence had a way of making people feel heard, cared for, and understood.

Her wisdom came not only from what she knew, but from the way she understood people. She taught through her words, through her actions, and most importantly, through the way she lived her life.

The Things That Brought Her Joy

As hardworking as Joeann was, she also knew how to enjoy life.

Joeann loved to cook—and she could cook. Her kitchen was a place where love was served right alongside the food. Cooking was one of the many ways Joeann cared for her family and brought people together.

Among the many gifts Joeann passed down to Raichelle was her love and skill for cooking. It is a gift Raichelle proudly carries with her and plans to continue sharing with her family and with the world. Every recipe remembered, every dish recreated, and every family gathered around a table will carry a little piece of Joeann with it.

Joeann loved music and dancing and enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends. She appreciated good conversation, camaraderie, laughter, gatherings, and simply spending time with the people she loved.

She treasured time with her grandson, Jermaine, whose presence brought tremendous happiness to her life.

Joeann also loved to laugh. She enjoyed watching Madea and Country Wayne, and she appreciated the kind of humor that could make you forget your worries for a while and simply enjoy the moment.

Her faith was woven into her everyday life. Joeann enjoyed reading her daily devotionals and Scriptures, finding wisdom, encouragement, and strength in God’s Word.

She found joy in many of life’s simplest and greatest gifts: good food, good music, dancing, laughter, faith, family, friendship, conversation, and togetherness.

A Life Measured by Love

Joeann’s life was not measured simply by the years she lived, the positions she held, or the work she accomplished.

Her life was measured by people—the people she loved, helped, taught, encouraged, advised, cared for, fed, laughed with, prayed for, and welcomed into her heart.

She was a wife. She was a mother. She was a grandmother. She was a sister and an aunt. She was a friend and confidante. She was a caregiver and teacher.

And to so many people, she was simply the person you could call.

Those Who Went Before Her

Joeann was preceded in death by her mother, Lovell Ruple; her father, James Abrams; her brothers, James Ruple, Robert Ruple, and Wilbert Ruple; her sisters, Viola Mims, Christine Ruple, Bernice Jameson, and Emma James; her brother-in-law, Lawrence Washington; and her sisters-in-law, Patricia Stubbs and Tona Washington.

Those Who Cherish Her Memory

Joeann leaves to cherish her beautiful memory her husband of 38 years, Donald Ray Washington; her beloved daughter, Raichelle Washington; her beloved grandson, Jermaine Ali Hopson Jr.; and her brother-in-law, Kenneth (Kim) Stubbs.

She also leaves her special son figure, Pierre Alati, whose love, presence, and unwavering support throughout her life—and especially during her illness—meant more to Joeann and her family than words could ever express.

Joeann also shared a special bond with her beloved nephew, Gavin Stubbs. Having lived with Joeann, Gavin remained a loving and dependable presence in her life, checking on her, looking after her, and making sure she knew she was cared for. His love and support held a special place in her heart.

She also leaves to cherish her memory her special nieces, Terry McKee and Patrice Ruple; her special nephew, Larry McKee; along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, coworkers, former coworkers, and countless others whose lives were touched by her love, wisdom, generosity, and presence.

Her Legacy Lives On

Joeann’s physical presence will be deeply missed, but what she gave to those she loved cannot leave with her.

Her wisdom will live in the advice we can still hear in our minds. Her lessons will live in the way we carry ourselves. Her strength will live in the people she taught to keep going. Her recipes and love of cooking will live at our tables and in the generations that follow. Her faith will live in the prayers and Scriptures that bring us comfort. Her generosity will live in the way we care for one another. Her laughter will live in the stories we tell. Her love will live through her family and through every person fortunate enough to have been touched by it.

And her light—the light that Raichelle learned so many years ago she would have to share with the world—will continue to shine through all of us.

A beautiful life. A class act. A guiding light. A woman who loved, taught, gave, laughed, cooked, danced, prayed, and cared for others until she could no longer do so.

Our wife. Our mother. Our grandmother. Our family. Our friend.

Forever loved. Forever remembered. Forever Joeann.