Joanne Guilfoose Fegley, 89, died January 13th at Noyes Health Center in Dansville from complications of Covid-19. Joanne was born on February 16, 1931 in Geneva, New York to Murray and Lena Johnston Guilfoose. She graduated from Geneva High School in 1949, and married Keith G. Fegley in 1950. They lived in Geneva and raised their four children there.
Joanne had a nursery school for 18 years, helping her kiddies understand how to get along with others, to share, to take turns, to treat each other with kindness, and to work through conflict peacefully. Rain, snow or sunshine, they spent time outside every day.
Joanne loved collecting antiques, and many weekends, she and Keith went “garage-saling” looking for forgotten treasures to refinish and restore. She became a Docent at the Rose Hill Mansion, leading tours and offering insights and stories about the stately old home and its contents.
After Keith retired from the Finger Lakes Times, they spent winters in West Palm Beach, Florida and summers at their beloved cottage on Seneca Lake. It was there that she could be found doing her favorite thing in the world – floating in the water on a sunny day. In more recent years, she lived in Canandaigua. Joanne will be remembered for her love of a good party and her glorious laugh.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, her brothers Jack (Mary), and David, and her son-in-law Stephen Worden. She is survived by her 4 children: Kelly (Stephen) Hennessy, Robin (Glen) Jacobs, Susan Worden, and Matthew Fegley, and three grandchildren; Jesse Worden, Nick Jacobs and Allie Jacobs, and many nieces and nephews, to whom she was Auntie Jo.
Due to Covid there will be no calling hours or memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Geneva Public Library, 224 Main Street, Geneva.