Joan M. Sieracki

June 5, 1937 ? February 20, 2005Joan Marie Sieracki, 67, of Winona died Sunday, Feb 20, 2005, at Lake Winona Manor of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).She was born June 5, 1937, in Winona, the daughter of Joseph E. and Mary K. (Devereaux) Sieracki. She graduated from Winona Cotter High School in 1955, and in 1959, from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wis., with a bachelors degree in Speech and English.Joan started her career at KWNO in Winona. In 1963, she headed to Chicago and worked for CBS-TV. She transferred to New York City in 1967 and continued working for CBS. Other career achievements included television promotions for George Rodman, work with Maestro Stephen Simon, parish assistant for Church of Our Saviour and assistant to Broadway producer Arthur Whitelaw which included work as the celebrity coordinator for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.Joan returned to Winona in 1993. She was instrumental in starting Story Theatre ? a multi-participant, theatrical reading of storybooks to children and adults. Many people enjoyed her skills as a lector at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, where she recently served as head lector. Joan had a passion for animals. As a co-founder of the nonprofit organization AniMenagerie, she was most recently working to establish a hospice for ill animals in the Winona area.Over the years, some of her passions included performing theatrical monologues, teaching piano and organ, playing organ for church services and working with her ice dancing coach at Rockefeller Center. Her piano skills were featured in a 1963 filmstrip teaching new pianists proper fingering techniques.Joan cultivated friendships far and near with her endearing charisma. She will be remembered for her smart wit and her "chin up to the world" style, which admirably carried her through her terminal condition.She is survived by her mother, Mary, of Winona, and a multitude of loving relatives and dear friends, and her kitty Middy.She was preceded in death by her father.A memorial Mass will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, corner of Main and Seventh streets, Winona, with Father Sauer officiating. Visitation is at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to "Joanie's Fund" at Merchant's National Bank, Winona.