Jennie M. Joannides

Jennie M. Joannides, 100, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away on September 18, 2018 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, WY. 

Mrs. Joannides was born February 23, 1918 in Moline, Illinois to Katina and Andrew Mihail. She graduated as a 4-year honor student from Austin High School in Chicago, Illinois, and from the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Greek School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1938 she married Louis Joannides of Chicago, Illinois who immigrated from Pera Pedhi, Cyprus.

During World War II, she and Mr. Joannides, a Lieutenant attached to the Intelligence Unit of the U.S. Naval Reserves, lived near Hickam Field at Oahu, Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor invasion. She gave speeches throughout the Cheyenne area about her experiences and what she saw during and after the invasion.

For the duration of the war and beyond, she volunteered as a Red Cross volunteer in Rock Island, Illinois and Clinton, Iowa. She also served as director of the first Junior Choir at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Rock Island, Illinois. She was a secretary for the Chicago District Choir Federation, and she was Parent Education Chair of the Illinois District Parent Teacher Association Executive Board. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joannides owned Joannides Investments and Insurance in Rock Island, Illinois. Mr. Joannides passed away in 1989. After living in Rock Island for 60 years, she moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1996 to be closer to her family.  She was proud that she lived by herself and was driving into her mid 90’s. 

In Cheyenne, she volunteered for the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. She attended writing classes at Laramie County Community College and subquently wrote her memoirs. She was a member of Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church of Cheyenne, Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, the Y.M.C.A. (lifelong), the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor) Society, and the Creative Writing Club.

Children left behind are daughter, Susannah Mihail (husband Jim Hale, deceased) of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; son Timothy Joannides (wife, Kathy) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; daughter Katina Joannides (husband, David Erlandson); niece Candice Kalman of Rock Island, Illinois; eight grandchildren: Jennifer Clark (husband, Sandy), Christopher Joannides (wife, Betsey), Angela Joannides, Nickolas Joannides (wife, Courtney), Andrew Joannides, Paul Erlandson and Reed Erlandson. She was a great-grandmother to five (soon to be six) great-grandchildren: Alicia Turner, Jarod Turner, Isabella Joannides, Sophia Schamber, Bailey Arquitt and Oliver Louis Joannides (on the way). 

She was preceded by her parents; husband, Louis; grandson, Josh Miers; son-in-law Jim Hale; brother, George Mihail, and  sister, Helen Kalman. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Apostles  Orthodox Christian Church Land and Building Fund, 9505 Hynds Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009 or the Memorial Fund for St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2930 31st Ave., Rock Island, IL  61201. 

Services for Mrs. Joannides where held 1:00 pm on Friday at  Holy Apostles Orthodox Christian Church of Cheyenne.  Additional services for  Mrs. Joannides there  be a visitation on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. followed by a Trisagion Prayer Service at 10:00 a.m. all at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Rock Island, Illinois.  Interment will follow in Rock Island National Cemetery.  All are Welcome. 

Services in Cheyenne are under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home and condolences may be offered to the family at www.schradercares.com.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island is assisting the family with local services.

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