Joann Marie Bondy, 92 years, of Monroe, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord on July 11, 2023 at Brookdale Senior Living Community in Monroe surrounded by her four children. Born April 15, 1931, at home on the family farm on Albain Road in Ida was the daughter of Joseph and Alma (Hoffman) Lerch. She was baptized, received first communion, and was confirmed all at St. Joseph Parish in Ida. Joann was a 1947 graduate of Ida Agricultural School, Class Salutatorian, and voted Miss D.A.R. (Daughter of the American Revolution).
On June 26, 1954, Joann married the man whose name God wrote on her heart, Joseph Bondy of Monroe at St. Joseph Church in Ida. They were introduced by her future father-in-law at a Detroit Edison Party. Sadly, Joe preceded her in death in 1996 after 42 years of marriage.
Joann grew up on the family farm, a farm girl in every way. Her horse, 'Tony' was her pride-and-joy, and she was proud to ride him in parades around Monroe County. She raised a variety of animals, making pets of them, and giving each a name. Her love of animals followed her throughout her life, especially dogs, and the sandhill cranes and deer that would visit daily at her home in Waterford.
Joann worked for Detroit Edison as a dispatcher from 1947-1955, after which she left to raise her family. She then joined Michigan Gas Utilities, where she enjoyed a career in a variety of roles from 1970 till her retirement in 1990. Joe and Joann then relocated to Arizona, where she lived until 2006, when she returned to Michigan, and took up residence in Waterford, Michigan, near her daughter, Ruth.
Joann's Catholic faith truly centered her life. She was very active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, both in Michigan and in Arizona, and attended daily Mass until she was no longer able to drive. In particular, the Rosary prayer was profoundly important to her, since she felt particularly drawn to the Blessed Mother. She made numerous pilgrimages, including Medjugorje, and was on one of the last flights out of the country before it fell into civil war. For well over ten years, beginning in Arizona, she made rosaries and sent them to missions and prisons throughout the world. By the time her arthritis prevented her from making any more rosaries, she had completed 10,000 in 2015. She was very involved in her parishes of St. Luke in Phoenix, Arizona, and at St. Benedict in Waterford, Michigan.
In addition to her husband, Joe, Joann was preceded in death by her parents, by her son, Matthew, her brothers, Fred Lerch and Marvin (Buddy) Zorn, by her grandchildren, Joshua Bondy, Christopher Bondy, and Abby Bauer.
She is survived by son, Mark (Kitty) Bondy, daughters, Lynne (Joe) Bauer, Karin (Deacon Mike) Stewart, Ruth (Joe) Dettloff; grandchildren, Angela (Ray) Garlough, Patrick (Kristin) Bondy, Kelli (Brian) Gase, Teresa (Doug) Rohr, Michelle (Andrew) Umstead; great-grandchildren, Brennan Gase, Beckett Gase, Kiernan Gase, Desmond Bondy, Xander Bondy, Sammy Bondy, Gracie Rohr, Lachlan Umstead, and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to friend, Rob Oetjens for faithfully bringing Eucharist to her every Sunday at Brookdale, and to the Brookdale staff, who loved and cared for her like family for four years.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023, beginning at 4:00-8:00pm at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, Michigan, 48161, where a Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. She will lie instate at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023 at St. Mary Church, 127 North Monroe Street, Monroe, MI 48162 with Mass of the Resurrection at 10:30 a.m. Fr. Robert Bauer will preside, and Deacon Mike Stewart will be the homilist. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Monroe.
Memorial contributions in Joann's memory are suggested to Heartbeat of Monroe. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com . To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Joann M. Bondy please visit our Sympathy Store.