Obituary of Anna I. Joseph

On December 21, 2020, Anna Issa Joseph, loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away at age 94. Anna was born on May 31, 1926 in Manchester, NY to Helen and Elias Issa. She graduated from Manchester High School and the Rochester Business Institute. She lived briefly in Rochester's 19th Ward while she worked as an office administrator. Her life changed in 1949 when she recognized a handsome young man from Canandaigua standing outside the Eastman Theater during the intermission of a performance. As the story goes, she tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a ride home. He readily agreed and so began her life's journey with Richard Joseph. The two were married on Thanksgiving, 1951 and enjoyed 67 happy years together in Canandaigua, NY. Ann led an active life. She was a world traveler (taking careful notes on visits to more than 100 countries!), skilled bridge player, tennis partner, cross country skier, ice skater, swimmer, walker, and member of Current Events, a group in which friends and neighbors participated in lively discussions on topics of the day in each other's homes. Ann is remembered for making many significant contributions to the life of St. John's Episcopal Church in Canandaigua. She was one of the first two women to be elected to the Vestry, served on the Altar Guild and as a Sunday School teacher. She was instrumental in forming a youth group and helped St. John's create a used clothing store in downtown Canandaigua. But the role Ann enjoyed most was that of raising her four children in Canandaigua, NY. Her children treasure the memories of family camping trips, surprise excursions to the big city of Rochester for seasonal events, large family reunions, and her support of their scouting, 4H, and athletic pursuits. She and Rich were also blessed with eight grandchildren whom they could not have been more proud of as they each made their way in the world. Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard Joseph, her brothers Abraham and Edward Issa, and her sisters Mary Issa, Hazel Dayhood and Zerith Jorden. She is survived by her sister, Martha (Cozmo) Lazara of Syracuse, NY, and four children: Richard Joseph (Brenda Spillman) of Gaithersburg, MD, Barbara (Douglas) Herendeen of Ocala, FL, David (Susan) Joseph of Rochester, NY, and Dr. Daniel Joseph of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Michael (Pamela) Herendeen, Callan (Christopher) Ruf, Ethan, Kathryn, Micah, Meredith, Ty and Olivia Joseph, and great-grandson, Beckett Ruf. She also leaves many other relatives and friends to share her memory. Ann's family extends deep gratitude to the wonderful caregivers at The Rochester Presbyterian Home for the extraordinary love and support they provided her the past two years. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of Ann's life will be held at a later date when her extended family and friends are able to gather. Memorial donations may be sent to: St. John's Episcopal Church, 183 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY, 14424 or The Rochester Presbyterian Home, 256 Thurston Rd., Rochester, NY 14619.