Joanna "Jo" (Orians) McCarthy

Joanna “Jo”  McCarthy, 95, of Saint Marys, died 2:50 P.M. Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital.

She was born October 19, 1927, in Salem Township, Wyandot County, Ohio, the daughter of Ambrose and Alta (Ross) Orians.

She married Thomas McCarthy on April 23, 1955, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and he preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children: Maureen (Andrew) Huber of Livonia, New York; Kevin (Robert) DiBartilomeo of Streamwood, Illinois; Allen McCarthy of Saint Marys; Bridget Sievert of Saint Marys; Neil McCarthy of Saint Marys; Gary McCarthy of Bloomington, Indiana; Ryan (Bianca) McCarthy of Portland, Oregon. She is survived by 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; by her siblings: Arlis Orians; Justine Puhl; Woodrow Orians; Sister MaryAnn Orians; Ross Orians; Reva Garber. She is survived by multiple generations of nieces and nephews.

Jo was a 1945 graduate of Salem High School in Wyandot County, where she was valedictorian of her class, and she had perfect attendance from 1st grade through graduation. She was a talented singer and was in a choral group that sang on the radio during World War II.  She worked as a bookkeeper for several years before her children were born, and then  she was a homemaker. Jo was a very active volunteer in the community and had served as the Holy Rosary Catholic Church parish festival raffle ticket chair for many years. She was a member of the Band Boosters and Rider Rooters; her greatest passion was volunteering at Auglaize School, Industries and the ARC of Auglaize County. In 1981, Jo was named Mother of the Year by Governor James Rhodes for her dedication to developmentally disabled persons in Auglaize County.

Jo was the last of her Orians family and was a cancer survivor. In her earlier years she had been an accomplished bowler and bowled at least one 300 game. She was known for her beautiful penmanship, her lovely smile and her quiet way. She was truly the rock of her family. She loved Facebook and always commented “LOVE” to everyone’s posts. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Salem St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upper Sandusky, and will be officiated by Father John Huber - CSB and Deacon Kevin Wintersteller. Burial will follow at Salem St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be given to either the St. Joseph’s Cemetery Fund in Carey, Ohio, Friends of Holy Rosary School or the ARC of Auglaize County, and can be sent to Lucas-Batton, 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, OH 43351.

 Condolences may be sent to her family via www.lucasbatton.com

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