Joanne Mary Lenkay

December 14, 1931 - July 27, 2017

Joanne “Joey” M. Dugan McHugh Lenkay passed from this life on July 27, 2017, surrounded by her loving family in her home. Joanne showed remarkable devotion to her vocations as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt (of 70 nieces and nephews), teacher, friend, and grandmother. Joanne was born on December 14, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio, where she attended Blessed Sacrament School and Parish. She went on to begin a long family legacy at Central Catholic High School (graduated in 1949), and then attended Mary Manse School for teaching. Joanne is known by many in the area for being an influential teacher, one who possessed the rare ability to impart truth in a genuine, caring, and patient way. She began teaching at Regina Coeli as a long-term substitute. Upon returning to the classroom after having six kids, she taught at Step by Step Nursery School before a long career at St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns. She moved up in grades with her children before finally settling in as the seventh and eighth grade math and science teacher. She continued to be actively involved at St. Pat’s even after retirement, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and helping to prepare funeral luncheons and count money after Mass. Joanne’s unwavering Catholic faith has served as a strong example for her children and grandchildren, whom she loved supporting in all of their athletic endeavors throughout CYO and at CCHS. In addition, Joanne loved playing tennis and bridge, sewing, baking her famous chocolate chip cookies, and babysitting her grandkids. She will join in heaven her parents, Blanche and Paul Dugan; her first husband, Jim McHugh; her daughter, Mary Jo; her brother, Paul; and many others. Joanne is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Joseph S. Lenkay; her sisters, Mary Alice Schuller, Suzanne Desmond, and Patricia Champine; her children, Michael (Joanne), Anne, Joseph (Jennifer), Kathleen (Cleves Delp), and Suzanne (Dominic Spinazze); and her grandchildren, Zach (Nicole), Kelly, Sarah, Maddie, Katie, Morgan, Sydney, Dugan, Maverick, Winston, Sophia, Isabella, Lucia, and Dominic. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd. on Sunday, July 30, from 2-8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7. The funeral will begin at Coyle on Monday, July 31 at 10:30, followed by Mass at 11 at St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns Church. Entombment will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given to Central Catholic High School or St. Patrick’s of Heatherdowns Church. Please leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com.