Joanne Ellen (Strablow) Groves

JOANNE GROVES

GODFREY - Joanne Ellen Groves, 66, left this world unexpectedly on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in the emergency room at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital in Alton. Though her time was far too short, she filled every moment with love, kindness, and an unwavering devotion to those she cherished. 

Born on June 10, 1958, in Denver, Colorado, Joanne was the daughter of the late Charles “Chuck” and Juanita (Sweeten) Strablow. She grew up in St. Charles, Missouri, and was a proud graduate of Francis Howell High School’s Class of 1976. 

Joanne was a caregiver by nature and by trade. It wasn’t just her profession - it was who she was at her core. She spent her career tending to those in need as a CNA and home health aide, eventually dedicating herself to hospice care at OSF St. Anthony’s until her well-earned retirement. Whether with patients, friends, or family, she had a way of making everyone feel safe, seen, and deeply loved. 

A devoted mother, Joanne poured her heart into raising her three children in Grafton, where she called home for 25 years. When a devastating mudslide took that home, she didn’t let it break her spirit. Instead, she embraced a new chapter, spending treasured time with her children and sister, never staying in one place for too long but always finding home in the people she loved most. 

She found joy in life’s simple pleasures - shopping trips and Olive Garden lunch dates with her daughter, Casey, cheering on her son David at BBQ competitions, and finding peace by the river at her son Dusty’s camper. She and her sister, Cathy, bonded over their mutual love for animals, volunteering at local shelters and rescues. And while Joanne loved to travel, her trips were never about extravagance. Whether she was in Colorado, playing penny slots in Las Vegas, or on a beach in Florida with her family just days before her passing, it was the company, not the destination, that mattered most. 

Joanne made the best of what she had and every moment she was given. Her greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren, and she was counting down the days to the arrival of her first great-grandchild. The depth of her love was limitless, and her family was her world. 

She lived on her own terms - with strength, independence, and a heart that never stopped giving. And though her children are heartbroken beyond words, they find comfort in knowing she lived fully and loved deeply. 

Joanne is survived by her a daughter and son-in-law, Casey and Bart Freeman of Jerseyville; two sons and a daughter-in-law, David and Rachel Groves and Dusty Groves, all of Godfrey; six grandchildren, Thomas Freeman and his fiance, Josie Schulte, Marcus Freeman, Emma Groves, Lyla Groves, Dalton Groves and Dawson Groves; her sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Bob Pendergrass of St. Peters, Missouri; and her beloved aunt, Nancy Shively of Blue River, Wisconsin. 

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, March 17, 2025 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. 

In honor of Joanne’s love for animals, memorials may be given to Found a Hound Rescue in Godfrey. 

Her time with us was too short, but the love she gave will last forever. 

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com

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