Joanne R. Elkanich

South Portland- Joanne R. Elkanich, 79, of Garnet Drive, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 04, 2015 at Gosnell Hospice House following a courageous battle with cancer. Her loving family was by her side. Joanne was born in Duquesne, PA on July 10, 1935 the daughter of Leo J. and Frances Kisiel Yost. She attended local schools and graduated from Duquesne High School in the class of 1953. She married Edward G. Elkanich on May 12, 1956 at St. Peter Paul Church in Duquesne, PA. In 1968 they made their home and raised their family in South Portland, Maine. After the last of the children were in school, Joanne went to work as an administrative assistant at UNUM, a position which she held for eighteen years, retiring in 1999. Joanne was a vibrant, very kindhearted, spiritual woman, a longtime communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in South Portland where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and reader, served on many church committees and volunteered for many activities within the church. In her spare time her greatest love was spending time with her family and making special memories with her grandchildren. Joanne is survived by her husband of 58 years Edward Elkanich; three daughters Janine Elkanich and her husband Larry and daughter Alexis of Biddeford, Jackie Tory and her husband Jeff, son Caden and daughter Taylor of South Portland, Annie Sherry and her husband George and daughters Kilee and Devan of Gorham; two sons Kurt and his wife Ann and their son Craig and wife Becky of Gray and Eric and his wife Melissa and their daughters Katie and Miranda of Gray; a brother Leo and his wife Janice Yost of Eighty Four, PA. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, February 9, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 at the chapel on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 followed by an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com