Joan Marie Gersonde

Joan Marie (Hild) Gersonde, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2011 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 600 Columbus in Benton Harbor with Fr. William Jacobs Jr. officiating. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 9, 2011 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lake Michigan Catholic Schools Tuition Fund 915 Pleasant, St., St. Joseph or the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library 500, Market, St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign the online guestbook for Joan may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Joan was born November 16, 1928 in Benton Harbor, MI., to John & Geraldine (Schmuhl) Hild. She graduated from St. John’s High School in 1946 and then graduated from Mercy School of Nursing of Xavier College in Chicago in 1950. Joan married Jack Gersonde in 1959. Joan at the age of 14 began working as a Candy Striper at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor. She also worked for Shoreham Terrace and Jordan’s Nursing Home. Joan was an active member of SS John & Bernard Catholic Church, Krasl Art Center, and Old St. Joseph Neighborhood Association. In her spare time she enjoyed traveling, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. Joan is survived by her children James Gersonde of Chula Vista, CA., Bonnie Phillips of St. Joseph, MI., and Gail Gersonde of Eau Claire, MI; five grandchildren James Gersonde Jr. of CA., Donald Gersonde of CT., Andrew Phillips of St. Joseph, Alexis Phillips of St. Joseph and Adam Essig of Eau Claire; brothers Phillip Hild Sr. of Benton Harbor, MI., and Donald (Beverly) Hild of Mariemont, OH; sister Donna Sittinger of Chicago, IL; and many nieces & nephews; Joan was preceded in death by her parents and sister Helen Jean Mayer.