Joanne Buck Obituary

Joanne L. Buck, age 83, passed away July 12, 2025. 

She was the loving mother of Deborah and Denise; dear grandmother of Christine, Jimmy, Kelly, Douglas, Laura and Stuart; great grandmother of Riley; big sister to Joe. She was preceded in death by her mother Anne and her father Joseph. 

Joanne was born and raised in Chicago and attended St. George Grammar School and Maria High School. She was a member of St. George parish since her birth, and she helped photograph and document the beauty of the church building before its closure. She followed Father Dodaro to All Saints - Saint Anthony parish, then followed Father Peter to Our Lady of the Holy Family parish. 

She spent her early adult years working at the Chicago Police Department as a clerk in the fingerprint technician area. She also worked in bookkeeping at Maurello Service in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Later in life, she had her own company where she marketed personalized products like magnets, mirrors, buttons and mugs. These were a hit with parents of newborns and with brides. She liked working her booths at bridal fairs and marketing her products to brides-to-be. Many folks likely still have the personalized magnets on their refrigerators, listing their baby’s names and birthdates, or mirrors in their purse with the names of couples and their wedding dates. 

She was an accomplished seamstress and made beautiful and intricate costumes for her children and grandchildren. Debbie and Denise won 1st place in the Back of the Yards Free Fair costume contest in 1965 for her elaborate Little Bo Peep costumes, and her beautiful Southern Belle costumes took 2nd place in 1966.

In addition to sewing, she loved painting and crafts. She attended almost every adult painting class held by Sister Rosanne at the Maria High School Motherhouse. She would frequently bring Dunkin Donuts to the Maria Motherhouse cafeteria, and visit with the Sisters over coffee. 

She loved her many dogs and her Timneh African Grey parrot, family trips to Pennellwood Resort in Michigan, summers at the lake house in Indiana, cousins luncheons, soft serve ice cream with her grandchildren, and a good burger. As her health declined and she ventured out less, she spent time at home handcrafting elaborate toys for, and holding conversations with her parrot, and watching Shark Tank and episodes of Law and Order.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

 A wake will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 03:00 PM to 08:00 PM at Pomierski Funeral Home, 1059 West 32nd Street, Chicago, IL 60608, and Thursday July 17, 2025 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM Thursday at St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church, 1039 West 32nd Street, Chicago, 60608. Interment  at St. Casimir Cemetery. (773)927-6424