Sarah Joanne Brick

Sarah Joanne Brick, 79, of Gnadenhutten, passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2013 after a period of declining health. Born September 23, 1933 in Dennison, Ohio, she was a daughter of the late Donald Wilson “Bud” and Dorothy Adeline (Johnson) Fulton.

A lifelong resident of the area, Joanne was a graduate of Dennison High School in the class of 1951. She resided in Gnadenhutten with her husband, Dale, and family and was employed for twenty-four years as the secretary to the Superintendent of Indian Valley Schools until her retirement on September 1, 1998. She was a longtime member of John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church in Gnadenhutten, having been active in her congregation in many capacities including teaching Sunday School, participating in the Circles of the Moravian Women and serving as a Diener along with her late husband. For many years, Joanne and Dale and their children cared for the church, inside and out, lovingly cleaning and polishing, mowing and raking, in preparation for each week’s worship service. She loved reading, writing poetry and solving crossword puzzles, and she was a mystery enthusiast.

On March 27, 1954, Joanne married Dale Wilbur Brick with whom she enjoyed nearly thirty-nine years of marriage until his passing on January 2, 1993. They are survived by a son, Mark A. (Kelly) Brick of Pickerington, Ohio; a daughter, Linda S. (Donald) Hockenberry of Gnadenhutten; and grandchildren, Bradley and Nicholas Eley and Jordan, Dale and Mary Ellen Brick. Joanne is also survived by her brother, John W. (Judy) Fulton of Phoenix, Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Jeanne Herman.

In keeping with Joanne’s wishes, private family services, officiated by Marie Couts, will be held with interment following beside her beloved husband in Gnadenhutten’s Clay-Union Cemetery. Those wishing to honor her memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663, in lieu of flowers. Joanne’s family wish to express their deep gratitude to the staff of Community Hospice and Schoenbrunn Healthcare for their exceptional care during Joanne’s final illness. She had sincere affection for her caregivers as they had treated her with kindness, love and respect that made her feel like family to them.