Ball

Joan C. Ball, 80, a well-known lifelong Chicora resident, passed away unexpectedly at her home Sunday evening, Aug. 24, 2025.

Joan was born in Chicora on Aug. 25, 1944. She was the daughter of the late Samuel and Gertrude Waltman Callihan.

Joan was a lifelong member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora. She was a 1962 graduate of Fairview Township-Karns City High School. She was a devoted homemaker in her earlier years, was employed in the banquet service at the Butler Days Inn and retired as the food service department manager at Dassa McKinney Elementary School in the Moniteau School District.

Joan had a special place in her heart for our nation’s veterans and was a life member of the Auxiliary, Post 117 American Legion in Butler, a life member of the Auxiliary, Post 6827 VFW, in St. Petersburg, Fla., as well as a 41-year member of the Women of the Moose in Chicora.

Joan looked forward to the company of friends and family, playing trivia and her favorite holidays, Christmas, St Patrick’s Day and Halloween. In her retirement years, Joan spent winters in Florida and loved when her friends and family visited. Nothing was more important than her seven granddaughters and her two great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. “Bob” Ball on July 3, 1989. The couple was married at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church on Dec. 28, 1961.

Surviving are two sons, Robert “Rob” Ball, and his fiancée, Deb Schulte, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Darin C. Ball and his wife, Danielle, of Mars. Joan was affectionately “Nana” or “Grandma Joan” to her grandchildren, Victoria Ball, of Baltimore, Md., Olivia Ball, of Melbourne, Fla., Sophia Ball, of Milford, Pa., Alixandra Balestra and her husband, Alexander, of Fort Wayne, Ind., Elizabeth Ball, of Indianapolis, Ind., Gabrielle Ball, of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Katherine Ball, of Mars; and two great-granddaughters, Penelope and Sylvie Balestra.

Also surviving are her brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Donna Callihan, Michael and Donna Callihan, Brenda Callihan, Judy Callihan, Elaine Callihan, Phyllis Everly, Linda Slater, Kathy Ball, all of Chicora, and Melanie Rieger, of West Sunbury; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Ed, Paul “Coffee Pot,” Sidney “Hurricane,” Bernard “Bean” and Richard “Dick” Callihan; as well as a number of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and great-nephews.

BALL — Friends of Joan C. Ball, who died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at HILE FUNERAL HOME OF CHICORA, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora.

The women of the Moose will conduct a memorial service at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, 409 N. Main St., Chicora, with the Rev. Matt McClain, pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish, officiating.

Interment will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.