Joan E. Donahue formerly of Clarion died on May 29, 2025 at St. Mary's Home in Erie. She was the last remaining member of the Aloysius (Losh) Ditz and Emma (Schmader) Ditz family. She was born in Fryburg, PA, on February 12, 1927. She was married to Robert V. Donahue on January 3, 1993, who preceded her in death in 2022.

Joan attended St. Michael Elementary School in Fryburg and Shippenville High School. Following high school, she worked as a secretary for the Fryburg Lumber Co. Later she was hired by United Natural Gas Co. (now National Fuel Gas) as a bookkeeper-cashier-secretary and worked in this capacity for 27 years in both the Clarion and Oil City offices.

Joan was an active person with many interests including music and sports. She played the guitar since she was very young, accompanying many family "songfests." She enjoyed singing and sang in both high school chorus and church choir. In sports, she played basketball in high school and enjoyed playing softball. Joan belonged to several bowling teams, winning many trophies including high game and high average. Joan also enjoyed hunting and fishing. She took yearly fishing trips to Canada and took part of her vacation each year to hunt deer.

Church work played an important part in Joan's life. She was an active member of St. Michael Parish in Fryburg, working in church groups and at the Labor Day Picnic. She had been president of the Guild at Immaculate Conception Parish, a past member of the funeral team, a Eucharistic Minister, an Usher, and served as secretary on the church's council.

Prior to her marriage, Joan lived with her sister Mary Rose Ditz in their home in Clarion. Nothing pleased Joan more than to spend the day cleaning up the woods below the house or mowing the grass to make the place more beautiful.

After their marriage, the Donahues resided in Clarion. They enjoyed travelling and spending time with friends and family. In later years they moved to an apartment at St. Mary's Home in Erie.

Joan is survived by stepdaughters Debbie Black and Carolyn Donahue and many nieces and nephews with special mention to David and Linda Ditz and their daughter Julie, who regarded Joan as "her grandma".

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband and siblings Mary Rose Ditz, Frances Obenrader(Arthur) Ochs (Albinus), Gerald "Jud" (Mildred) Ditz, Robert "Mex" (Julia) Ditz, Ruth Schill (Raymond) Jeannerat (Herald), Agnes (Paul) McCloskey, and a twin brother, Paul Aloysius, who died shortly after birth.

Friends and family will be received from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory: 330 Wood St. Clarion, PA 16214. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 11:00am at Immaculate Conception Church: 715 Main St. Clarion, PA 16214 with Rev. Cory L. Pius as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Fryburg.

Memorial donations may be made in Joan's memory to the Immaculate Conception Parish School: 729 Main St. Clarion, PA 16214 or the UPMC Family Hospice: 1700 Peach St. Erie, PA 16501.

Friends and family may send online condolences, order flowers and memorials, and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.