January 12, 1937 - August 20, 2025 Joan Elizabeth Donley, 88, of Hopedale, passed away August
20,2025, at Gables Care Center with her family by her side. Joan was born on January 12, 1937, at the family home on
Blairmont Road in Adena, Ohio, to parents George and Helen (Bodak) Holyak. Joan
went to school in a one room schoolhouse in Hurford, until eighth grade and
graduated from Adena High School in 1954. She was a Shortcreek Township clerk
for many years and took pride in her work. Later after all three of her
children were in school, Joan worked as a teller at Bank Ohio in Cadiz, working
her way to Assistant Bank Manager at National City Bank, formerly Bank Ohio,
until her retirement in 1999. She was also a member of the Adena American
Legion Post 525 Auxiliary and Pine Valley Sportsman Club. Joan’s family was her main priority, always attending as many
activities for not only her children but also her grandchildren and great
grandchildren. Joan loved to play cards, from “Penny Ante” on Saturday nights
with family and friends, to canasta with her card club that she was in for over
50 years, playing cards with friends at Pine Valley and going to the casino,
holding her own in the poker room. Joan even played poker with World Series of
Poker champion, Scotty Nguyen at the Mirage in Las Vegas. She was an avid
Cleveland Browns fan and loved to watch any football game she could find on TV. Joan eloped and married the love of her life, John, on September
10,1955. John was a rock to Joan, and when he preceded her in death, in 2010,
she never lost her loneliness for him. Joan is survived by her children: Janine (Bruce) Kuzma, Jeffrey
(Robby) Donley, and Jay (Bernice) Donley, and her siblings: Elaine “Lovie”
Wooldridge, Linda Bandyk, Robert Holyak, Diane Hornyak and Larry Holyak. Her
memory will always be cherished by her grandchildren: Lucas (Erin) Kuzma, Logan
(Sarah) Kuzma, Justin (Brigette) Donley, Jason (Avery) Donley, Jacob Donley,
Jessica (Brandon) Eberhart, Joseph Donley and Jonathan Donley, her
great-grandchildren: Kamryn and Gavyn Kuzma, Weston and Maverick Kuzma, Jude
and Jordan Donley, Jettson Donley, Bransen and Braden Eberhart, as well as her
special friend, Jean Smith. Also missing Joan is her little Yorkie, Pixie,
along with generations of nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Joan was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents and
her siblings, George “Hawkie” Holyak, Carole Jeskey, Sandra Malisisk, Joyce
Anderson, Shirley Utter and Jerry Holyak. Also her faithful four-legged
companion Ebby. Joan’s family would like to thank the staff at Gables Care
Center for the wonderful and compassionate care of her throughout her stay. If you would like, in lieu of flowers, Joan’s wishes were for
donations to be made to the Humane Society of Harrison County, PO Box 404,
Cadiz, Ohio 43907. Friends and family were received Monday, August 25, 2025, from
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, at the Borkoski Funeral Home in Adena, where Reverend
William Cross will officiated her funeral service at 12:00 PM. Interment will
follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.borkoskifuneral.com
