ROCHELLE — Mary Joan Woksa, age 90, passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at her home with her family at her side.  She was born on December 31, 1933 in Whittemore, IA, the daughter of James and Lydia (Eisele) Bisenius.  Joan married William Joseph Woksa on November 30, 1957 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Omaha, NE.  

Joan worked at the Rochelle Elementary Schools as a Registered Nurse before retiring. She was active in practicing her faith as a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She served as church organist for many years as well as a Religious Education teacher. She could also be found playing the piano at home and tapping her foot day and night to the music in her head. She loved to sew and was an amazing seamstress. Joan served as den mother for Cub Scouts as well as being an active leader of the Blue Birds. She enjoyed polka dancing and continued to dance with her husband at all occasions. Her hobbies included bowling, playing pinochle and other card games with friends, and spending time with her family. She collected antiques, most notably glassware, and loved taking pictures and organizing them into scrapbooks. She was a die hard fan of Chicago sports. 

Joan is survived by her husband, Bill Woksa of Rochelle; five children: Patricia (Chuck) Cawley of Rochelle, Maryanne (Mark) Patrick of Gilbert, AZ, Marshall (Debbie) Woksa of Nashville,TN,  Ed (Tammy) Woksa of Roscoe, IL, and Paula (Jon) Koziol of Rochelle; sixteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Joan is preceded in death by her parents and four siblings: Luella Lenhart Hoft, Maxine Connor, Bonnie Kavanaugh, and Clem Bisenius.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th Street in Rochelle with a rosary service at 7 P.M. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Rochelle with Father Jesus Dominguez officiating. Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery in Rochelle. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s name may be directed to St. Patrick Catholic Church. Please visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.