Joan Edwards

Joan Edwards, 80, of Benton Harbor, died Friday, April 17, 2015 at home. A Visitation and family gathering will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 20 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church on Union Ave in Benton Harbor.  A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Wednesday April 22 at the Church.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Augustine of Canterbury Church Building Fund.  Those wishing to leave an online message or memory may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Joan was born on July 17, 1934 to Edward Hackiewicz and Bernice Janicki in Chicago, a town she loved all of her life.  A graduate of Kelly High School, she attended Chicago Teacher’s College before marrying William Edwards on June 22, 1953.  They had two children: Kate (Fr. Dan) Scheid with whom she lived, and Edward (Paul Grzella) Edwards of Bridgewater, NJ.  She also is survived by stepsons Dennis (Rosemary) Edwards of Orchard Park, Illinois, and Gerald (Rosemary) Edwards of Lockport, Illinois; sister Joyce James of Savannah, Georgia; brother James (Bernice) Hackiewicz of Chicago; 14 grandchildren-Molly Thomas, Lena Thomas, Dennis Edwards, Angela McKale, Kristi Edwards, William Edwards, Anthony Edwards, Kelli Kerrigan, Tara Larson, Gerald Edwards, Jamie Scheid, Rachel Scheid, Joshua Scheid and Susan Scheid; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband William on October 31, 1971. Joan retired after working for 25 years as a housekeeper for the Roman Catholic religious order-The Servants of Mary in Berwyn, Illinois.  A woman of deep faith and kind heart, she loved to read mysteries, make jewelry, embroider, garden with her daughter, travel-including regular trips to her beloved Chicago, and spend time with family members around the country.