JoAnn Elaine (McGinnis) Wolfe, age 82, passed on to Heaven with her daughters by her side on Sunday, March 1, 2026. She is survived by her loving children: Sheri and Andrew Helmer of Hummelstown, PA, Megan and Phillip Mucksavage of Newtown Square, PA, and Amber and Sean MacCarroll of Sykesville, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Isaac and Navdeep, Samuel, Josiah, Nathan and Gisell, Abigail and Hannah Helmer, Colin, Maeve, Keira and Sean Mucksavage, and Liam and Eli MacCarroll. Her surviving sisters and brothers are: Doris McGinnis of Lancaster, PA, Robert (Bob) and Barb McGinnis of Boyers, PA, Virginia (Ginny) Davis of Brookville, PA, Dot Wolfe of Goodview, VA, Colleen and John Kennedy of Punxsutawney, PA, Patrick (Pat) and Deb Wolfe of Knox Dale, PA and many nieces and nephews who she loved very much.
JoAnn was preceded in death by Stan, her loving husband of 57 years, her parents, Erma and Lewis (Ez) McGinnis, and an infant son.
JoAnn was born on Easter Sunday, April 25, 1943, in Boyers, PA to Erma and Lewis McGinnis. She always hoped to be able to celebrate her 95 th birthday in 2038, which would be the next time Easter Sunday would fall on April 25th. JoAnn grew up in a loving family and was the oldest of three children. She graduated from Moniteau High School in 1961 and earned a teaching degree from Slippery Rock in 1965. JoAnn began her teaching career in Maryland before she met Stan.
Stan and JoAnn were married in Boyers, PA on July 15, 1967. Together they had one infant son who passed soon after birth and three wonderful daughters who were the center of their world. While the girls were growing up, JoAnn enjoyed supporting them in their many activities. In her free time, she enjoyed doing cross stitch, caring for her flower beds, and reading Guidepost and Reader’s Digest. She also liked traveling, including the summer (driving) vacations they took each year to various places across the US and the week spent at a fishing camp with the McGinnis family each summer.
JoAnn taught elementary school for many years, taking a few years off from teaching while her daughters were young. She retired from Cumberland Valley School District in 2002. JoAnn was a faithful and active member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church since the early 1970s and served in many ways. She really liked being part of the church family and always looked forward to the fellowship dinners and other social activities held by the church.
Following their retirements, JoAnn and Stan kept busy traveling (many bus trips!), helping care for their grandchildren when needed, volunteering at Holy Spirit Hospital, and going to Hersheypark each summer. She very much enjoyed spending time with her daughters and their families and always made sure to bring them meals whenever she could – stuffed shells, chicken divan and apple pies were her specialties!
The family will receive visitors at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 4685 Mt Zion Dr, Enola, PA 17025, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 10am to 11am, a Memorial Service will immediately follow at 11am. Burial will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11am at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Knox Dale, PA. Friends and family are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider making a donation in JoAnn’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Association – In Memory of JoAnn Wolfe , Mt Zion United Methodist Church (4685 Mt. Zion Dr, Enola, PA 17025) or your favorite charitable organization.
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Wolfe family.
www,sullivanfuneralservices.com
6 comments on “JoAnn E. Wolfe”
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. JoAnn and I worked together at Middlesex school. The fond memories of our teaching years were filled with laughter and happiness. Now she and Stan are together in heaven.
Aunt JoAnn and Uncle Stan graciously opened up their home to me when I interned in Harrisburg during college. I’ll never forget their generosity. I miss Aunt JoAnn’s phone calls, wonderful meals, and her interest in our lives. I miss her but am so happy she is with Uncle Stan.
Pat McGowan and I came down to visit Stan and JoAnn when they were living near Longwood Gardens, probably early 1968 or 67. JoAnn gave directions through the “scenic” Dutch country, forgetting it would be dark by the time we arrived from western Pa. ! We also visited on the main drag of Mechanicsburg. Their split level and the “new” house they built. On that visit Stan and I got to shovel the 10″ of Sunday night snow so we could drive home on Washingtons Birthday (that was before it became Presidents Day) !
Loved being young. Woody
I have been so blessed to have both JoAnn and Stan as a Mom and Dad. I remember the day I meet them both and the stuffed shells JoAnn would make. They have treated me as a son and I love them. While I am sad JoAnn has passed, I know she is in heaven with Stan.
Sheri, Megan, and Amber,
When I started teaching at Middlesex and met your mom all I could think about were the 3 great daughters of hers I had taught at Good Hope. Your mom always had a smile and caring ways for others. We bonded when she heard I was going to visit my daughter who lives in Grove City – that’s where her parents were at the time. God bless you all at this time of loss. Please know you have many people thinking of you.
JoAnn and I and Patty McGowan, college roommates, walked from Slippery Rock College to JoAnn’s home in Boyers, PA in about 1964 when long walks were the popular thing to do.