JoAnn Frank-Glassford, 70, of Cherry Hill Township, passed away Friday, August 16, 2024, at home after a 3 year battle with ALS.
Daughter of the late Joseph Frank DDS and Anna Baich-Frank, she was born in Johnstown PA, August 31, 1953. She married James Milton Glassford on April 13, 1985.
Surviving are her husband and her two children: James Glassford of Cherry Hill Township, William Joseph Glassford, PhD of NYC, NY, Kenneth James Glassford, MD and wife Melissa King, MD of Lancaster, PA; two sisters: Christine and husband Larry Blalock of Westmont, PA; Karen and husband Scott Geisel of Davidsville, PA; brother Joseph and wife Debbie Frank of Washington, PA; nieces: Blaken Geisel and Stephanie Frank-Repp; nephews: Chase Prinoth, Timothy Frank, Timothy Morris and Matthew Morris.
JoAnn will be remembered as a fully committed mother, Jim’s best friend, and a wonderful big sister. Family was always her first priority as she took great pride in her sons and her special relationship with her sisters. JoAnn graduated from Johnstown High School in 1972 and worked eleven years for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Johnstown, PA. She served in different departments of the steel mill until moving to Boston, Mass in 1985. There she found an outlet for expressing her creative side working in interior design before the birth of her first child in 1987. JoAnn moved back to PA in 1988 settling in Cherry Hill Township with her husband and now, her two sons: Bill and Ken. JoAnn was a stay at home mother after moving back to PA. while taking classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1999. JoAnn started working at IUP after her graduation and worked for various departments until retirement from IUP Graduate School in 2018.
In addition to JoAnn’s parents, she was preceded in death by her older brother Gary Frank in 2002.
JoAnn had a lifetime of hobbies and excelled at sewing since junior high school; dresses, upholstery, costumes and had completed multiple entire house window treatments. Her skills in sewing led to her position while in Boston, as a window designer for an interior design company until Bill was born.
After retirement from IUP, pickleball replaced tennis as JoAnn’s favorite sport. She was able to enjoy several years of playing pickleball with the Indiana pickleball club before the onset of ALS. Special thanks to Joan, Ellen, Pat and other club members for their support before and after JoAnn’s diagnosis.
Friends will be welcomed to celebrate JoAnn’s life on Monday, September 9, 2024, between 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 pm at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, 500 Ben Franklin Road S, Indiana PA.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorial contributions be donated to the ALS Association of Western Pennsylvania Chapter in her memory. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease.
To express an online condolence to the family, please visit www.bowserminich.com.
