JoAnn White Singell

JoAnn (White) Singell, 73, of Phoenix, Arizona, formerly of Elkhart, IN and Benton Harbor, MI, died suddenly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008. JoAnn was born Nov. 28, 1934 in Hannibal, Missouri to Wallace B. & Nellie F. (Teall) White. JoAnn married David F. Singell, Sr. on March 3, 1973 in Dowagiac, Michigan. He survives along with five daughters, Dyanna (Guy) Price of Coloma, MI, Dawn Smith (Bob Frankel) of Brandon, FL, Denise Gingerich-Anderson (Walter Anderson) of Benton Harbor, MI, Daniele Nadon-Paston of Elkhart, IN, Janet Wright of Mishawaka, IN and a son, David F. (Valerie) Singell, Jr. She was preceded in death by her son, David Greer Nadon and one grandson, Matthew D. Wright. Mrs. Singell is the grandmother of 17 grandchildren: David Daily, Dustin Daily, Tarah Marvin, Derick Lehman, Anthony Marvin, Christopher Wright, Drew Raholin, Devin Martinez, Dorion Martinez, Kalie Paston, Joseph Smith, JoAnna Price, Chloe Paston, Alexandria, Reyna, Darren and Donavon Gingerich, along with 10 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Singell is also survived by 8 brothers and sisters: Marjorie Vaughn of Noblesville, IN, Betty Hoffman and Helen Gray, both of Benton Harbor, MI, Wallace White, Jr. of Middlebury, IN, Charlotte Hoffman of South Bend, IN, Patricia White of Phoenix, AZ, Donald White of Perry, MO and J.Timothy White of Bristol, IN. Mrs. Singell moved to Elkhart as a child from Hannibal, Missouri in 1947 and graduated from Elkhart High School. She graduated from Goshen College School of Nursing in 1977 and was involved in the SST program in Warsaw, Poland where she lived and studied on a kibbutz. Mrs. Singell and her husband were involved in missionary work in Haiti for numerous years. JoAnn was also an Elkhart County Foster Parent for 15 years to more than twenty foster children in the Elkhart County area. Mrs. Singell was an active member of Gospel Assembly of Phoenix and a member of the church choir. She enjoyed traveling, singing, sewing and spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed by her husband, children, grandchildren, friends and family from around the country. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, unexpected sense of humor and love of adventure. Visitation will be on Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Starks-Menchinger Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Michigan, with private family viewing one hour earlier. Funeral services for Mrs. Singell will be on Tues. Jan. 15, 2008 at 11: 30 a.m. at the Church In Benton Harbor, 224 Pipestone, Benton Harbor. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.