Joanne B. Houle

Joanne Houle 85 year-old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Thursday, November 29, 2012 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie with Father Joe Herzing officiating. Burial will take place in the Holy Family Parish Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. on Monday, December 3, 2012 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN and from 10-11 A.M. on Tuesday at the Church. St. Anne’s Christian Mothers Rosary will be said at 4:30 P.M. and Parish Prayers will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Monday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Joanne was born on March 21, 1927 in Brainerd, MN to the late Ed and Gertrude (Brick) Nelson. She was united in marriage to Willard Houle on October 21, 1946. The couple made their home in Ripley Township on the original Houle homestead where they raised their four children. Joanne enjoyed being at home raising her children until they were all in school. She then went to work at Munsingwear where she worked for 20 years. Joanne enjoyed being surrounded by her family and friends. She also loved playing cards, knitting, gardening, canning, baking, and sewing. In her retirement she enjoyed appliquéing sweatshirts and selling them at crafts fairs in Minnesota in the summer and Arizona in the winter months. Joanne and Willard had a home in Yuma, AZ where they spent their winters. She was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie and a member of the St. Anne’s Christian Mothers. Left to cherish her memory are sons, Gary (friend Yvonne) Houle of Little Falls, MN, Robert (Pam) Houle of Little Falls, MN, and Lance (Patti) Houle of Little Falls, MN; daughter, Cheryl (Mike) Pietrowski of Little Falls, MN; 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, DeEtta Gilson and Mabel Houle. Joanne was preceded in death by, parents, husband, Willard Houle; infant son, Richard; brother, Alvin Nelson; sister, Florence Roskop; and grandson, Tim Houle.

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Joanne B. Houle

March 21, 1927 - November 29, 2012