SAN BENITO—Joann Marie Gibson Hartwick, age 77, passed away on Dec 23, 2014 in Victoria, TX. 
She lived a full and complete life.
She was born on Dec 9, 1937 to the late Earl Eugene and Cecelia Marie Rooth Gibson in Houston, TX, but spent most of her life in the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated from PSJA High School. She was married to the love of her life, James Thomas Hartwick, of Haverstraw, NY on August 3, 1957 at St Jude’s Catholic Church in Pharr. She was blessed to spend 40 years together in marriage with James Hartwick before he passed away on Nov 1, 1997.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and a granddaughter Lauren Hartwick.
She is survived by her five children: Michael Hartwick and his wife Laurie Anne of Orem, Utah; Suzie Ryan and her husband Joe of Victoria; Sara Warrington and her husband Herman of Carthage; Teresa Preston and her husband Robert of Flower Mound; and Thomas Hartwick and his wife Julie of Round Rock; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother John W. Gibson and his wife Pat of Dripping Springs; a sister-in-law Sister Janet Hartwick of Blauvelt, New York; and many beloved nieces and nephews .
She graduated from Pan American University with a degree in Education, and also earned Masters’ Degrees in Education and Library Science. Joann led a life of service to our Lord using her gifts to bless the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Also, she served a multitude of children in her roles as Girl Scout Leader, neighborhood mom, and Harlingen CISD elementary teacher, and high school librarian. After her retirement, Joann continued her library service as a volunteer in Weslaco. Among the many roles she held in her church were Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Lector. She had a passion for quilting that she shared with her children, grandchildren, friends, and community. In her last days here on this earth she had a peace about her that only God could have given her. She was loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.
Visitation was held on Monday, Dec 29, 2014 with a holy rosary recited in the evening at Skinner-Silva Funeral Home in Pharr. Funeral mass was celebrated at 10 am on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Alamo with interment following at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg.
The family suggest memorial contributions may be made to Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, 8120 Woodmont Ave, Suite 530, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Funeral services were entrusted to the care of Skinner-Silva Funeral Home of Pharr.
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