Joann Houser

Joann Houser

Grand Island, Neb.

Joann Houser, 94, of Grand Island, Neb., passed away March 7, 2023, at St. Francis Medical Center.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Resurrection Catholic Church, with Father Vijumon Chooracka and Father Don Buhrman officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home, with a rosary at 6 p.m. Interment will be held in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences can be left at www.livson.com.

Joann was born on Dec. 27, 1928, in Anamosa, to William J. and Lucille M. (Grimm) Cartano. Joann attended school in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Wilson High School in 1947. She married Forrest H. Houser on Nov. 12, 1959, in Cedar Rapids. They lived in Cedar Rapids until 1973, when they moved to Grand Island. She started her career with Bell Telephone in 1944 as an operator and worked her way up to the engineering department before retiring in 1986.

She was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ladies of St. Leo’s and was the president for 3 years of the organization, a charter member of the Saddle Club and Telephone Pioneers of America. She was a dedicated volunteer with Life Line at St. Francis Medical Center and had over 2,500 volunteer hours and crocheted caps for newborns. In her spare time, she liked to quilt, write poems, draw and participate in theatre productions. She enjoyed going to football games, track and gymnastic meets, watching golf and horse shows. Above everything else, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survived by children, Craig Houser (Jenna Anderson) of Grand Island, Lisa Dozler (David) of Albion and Sheila Houser-Zealand of Omaha; grandchildren, Cytasha Campa, Brett Houser, Brian Houser (Jessica), Rebecca Iburg (Justin), Penelope Dozler and Elijah Dozler; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Abby and Nevaeh; brother, Gary Cartano (Lucy) and sister, Linda Decker (Earl).

Preceded in death by parents; husband; brother, John Cartano and sister, Shirley Pazour.