JoAnn Delores Unnerstall

St. Louis native, JoAnn Delores Unnerstall (nee Ghirardi), 72, of O’Fallon died December 24, 2012 at Life Cared Center of Florissant.
She was born November 6, 1940 the daughter of the late John B. Ghirardi and Mary L. (Keiper) Ghirardi.
She is survived by 2 sons, Conrad J. Unnerstall Jr and Brian K. Unnerstall, one daughter, Laurie A. Cook, 3 Grandchildren, Christina Cook, Michael Regna, Nicholas Unnerstall, 6 brothers and their spouses, George and Marilyn, Charles and JoAnn, John and Jackie, Joseph and Cathy, Anthony and Debra, Michael and Elaine, a sister and her spouse, Mary and Bobby and loving partner Gerald Lami.
Preceding her in death was her brother James T. Ghirardi.
A memorial mass will be held on Monday, December 31, 2012 at 11:00am at Our Lady of the Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8115 Church Rd. St. Louis, MO 63147 (Baden MO).
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Louis Special School District or Special Olympics.
Services provided by St. Louis Cremation.

13 Comments

  1. Dot Jenner on December 28, 2012 at 10:01 am

    JoAnn will certainly be missed by her Curves friends, of which I am only one of many. She fought the battle of cancer with a courageous attitude all the way to the end of her life.
    She is now free and out of the pain that she has endured on this earth.
    I will miss our phone calls, her laughter, and her smart alec comments.



  2. dee kuhlenberg on December 28, 2012 at 10:47 am

    Joann was a carring and loving woman that showed in her compassion to the job she loved so much working with the children of special school district of st. Louis county, mo. It has been an horner to have known and worked with this wonderful strong woman. Joann you will be missed! Rest in peace my friend.



  3. linda lieder(miller) on December 28, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    Laurie I am so sorry for your loss, I know how it feels to lose your mother and your closest friend. Your mother was always a joy to be around and I am just sorry I wasn’t able to see her again before her passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family at this time.



  4. Kristin Van De Velde on January 2, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    It has been said that “Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity. ~Terri Guillemets”. Your mother will always be in your mind and heart–a special irreplaceable person. You may go on, but her essence remains a part of you. With sincere sympathy to you and your family at this time of loss.



  5. Bill Berhorst on January 2, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    So sorry for your loss.



  6. Kristin Van De Velde on January 2, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” Sincere sympathy to Laurie and family. Scholastic IT-JC.



  7. Bruce Kliethermes on January 2, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    Please accept my condolences.



  8. Kenny and Susie Prenger on January 2, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    Our sincerest condolences and sympathy for your loss.



  9. Denise Bax on January 3, 2013 at 10:26 am

    So very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Do not stand at my grave and weep,
    I am not there; I do not sleep.
    I am a thousand winds that blow,
    I am the diamond glints on snow,
    I am the sun on ripened grain,
    I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush
    I am the swift uplifting rush
    Of quiet birds in circling flight.
    I am the soft starlight at night.
    Do not stand at my grave and cry,
    I am not there; I did not die.
    -Mary Elizabeth Frye, 1932



  10. Matt Schaeffer on January 7, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Laurie,

    I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Times like these are difficult, but you’ll get through it. I offer you my sincerest condolence.

    -Matt



  11. Patti Russell on January 8, 2013 at 11:40 am

    JoAnn was one of the nicest women I knew and worked with at Special School District. She went through a lot of pain and she deserves her bounty now. God Bless you my friend.



  12. Mohamed Ali on January 8, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    Laurie,
    I’m sorry for your loss. I send you thoughts of peace and courage.

    -Moh’d



  13. Valerie Drabant (Zeiss) on July 17, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    i just heard about JoAnn’s passing. I have many fond memories of her during the years we shared. Please accept my sincerest condolences.



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