Joann Marie (Weller) Shain

Joann Marie Shain, 82, died at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, May 16, 2019 at White Hall Nursing and Rehab Center in White Hall.

She was born on December 14, 1936, one of eleven children born to the late Jesse Edward and Thelma Marie (Kirchner) Weller Sr., and grew up along with her siblings in Jalappa, where she attended the Greene Summit School.

She married Leonard "Sonny" Shain on March 24, 1955 in Jerseyville and together they were the parents of five children and shared in 22 years of marriage, prior to his sudden passing on November 12, 1977.

Growing up as part of a large family, Joann learned early on the values of hard work and responsibility. This became especially important after Sonny's death, when she became a single mother, working tirelessly to provide the best possible life for her children.

Her working career began at the International Shoe Factory in Jerseyville and she went on to work for periods of time at Roeper's Plastics and Garnets Nursing Home before venturing out into the private sector, where she found her true calling as a home health aide, caring for numerous people in the community throughout her career.

Joann was a caregiver by nature, both professionally and in her personal life. Her door was always open, and upon entering her home you were certain to be greeted with a warm pot of coffee and a meal fit for a king. No matter if you were family or a complete stranger, you could find love and acceptance in Joann's home.

Always putting the needs of others before her own, there were few times that Joann could dedicate to herself, but when the opportunity arose, she enjoyed tending to her flower garden, fishing and spoiling her true pride and joys, her grandchildren.

Surviving are two daughters and a son in-law, Karen and Bob Gillespie of Port Isabel, TX and Jane Shain of Jerseyville; two sons, Jesse and Greg Shain, both of Jerseyville; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great grandchildren; a sister, Mazie Bridgeman of Jerseyville; a brother, Ricky Weller of Cleeves, OH; a sister in-law, Ruby Weller of Bethalto as well as a brother in-law, David Strack of Wood River.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Beverly Myers; a great-grandson, Kenneth Daiker Jr.; seven brothers and their spouses, Jesse Jr. and Dorine Weller, Harvey and Sharon Weller, Bill Weller, Jim Weller, Benjamin "Lin" Weller, Clete Weller and Julius Weller; as well as a sister, Jeanette Strack.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until time of a family-led Celebration of Life service at 6 p.m., Thursday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Private burial will take place at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials may be given to the Memory Care Unit at White Hall Nursing and Rehab Center, in care of Crawford Funeral Home. 

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