Patricia "Joann" Rex , 88, of South Whitley, passed away in the company of family at 1:24 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Parkview Regional Hospital, where she was a patient for the past ten days.

Born on June 18, 1936, in Wabash, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Everett J. and Lydia Lucille (Aughinbaugh) Penn.  Growing up in Chester Twp., near North Manchester, she attended Chester School, then moved to South Whitley, where she completed grade school and graduated from South Whitley High School in 1954.

Raising three children, Joann also worked for Stump's Printing Company in South Whitley for eight years.

On February 2, 1973, she married Joe A. Rex.  They made their home in South Whitley until 1985 when they moved to Ligonier, where they owned and operated Joann's Hallmark Store in Ligonier.  In 1994, the couple moved to Palm Springs, CA, where they became property managers.  In 2000, they retired back to South Whitley.

Joann enjoyed scrapbooking and decorating for the holidays, a skill she used at her Hallmark Store.  An accomplished baker, she made cookies of all types, especially Christmas cut-out cookies.  She collected snowmen figurines, including all the Hallmark series.  To break away from her daily routine, she loved to go shopping.

Surviving is her husband of 51 years, Joe; children, Debra (Rex Darley) Lancaster, Jeffrey (Melissa) Smith, and Sharon (Dave) Peters, all of South Whitley; stepchildren Rebecca Vaughn of Indianapolis, David (Sandy) Rex of Dayton, OH and Kathy (David) Reeg of Little Rock, AR; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and a special sister-in-law, Jane Penn.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a brother, Gene Penn.

The funeral service is at 2 p.m. Friday (Dec 20th) at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley.  Burial is at the South Whitley Cemetery.  Visitation is from noon until the service at the funeral home.

Memorials in Joann's honor are to the Collamer Church of God.