Joanna Kay Terrill

Joanna Kay was born the first of identical twins into a family of hard-working farmers located in Assumption, Ohio. She was often referred to by her middle name Kay, while her twin was referred to by her shortened name, Jo. Both grew up learning how to serve their family and community with simple acts of love. Kay was taught that living off of the land and livestock on their farm was all they needed. She worked alongside her mother and sister, learning family recipes, house chores, and helping to care for the animals. Kay learned the art of preserving and canning food, which she continued throughout her life, even after leaving the farm. 

Kay attended St. Mary’s Assumption (now Holy Trinity) where she graduated, alongside her twin sister, Joan Elaine, in 1968. From there, the dynamic duo completed their cosmetology training from Miss. Ruby’s Beauty College in Downtown Toledo. After completing her courses, and obtaining her license, Kay ventured across the world joining the love of her life, Frank, at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. At a mere 18 and 19 years of age, in a foreign country, Frank and Joanna began to write the story of their 56 year marriage. 

In 1968, while serving active duty in the United State Air Force, Frank and Joanna walked down the aisle and said “I do”! But not before her twin, Joan, married that Airman's brother, Gene back in the states. 

Shortly after, in June, 1969, they welcomed their first child, Matthew Craig. Joanna loved being a mother, she would tell her stories later of walking around their barracks and village with her new baby in her pram. Visiting shops, and sending home videos and recordings to their families in the states, anxious to be reunited again. 

Kay soaked in 1969 UK, from the trendy fashion and hairstyles, to the food and lifestyle completely different from small-town Ohio. It was England's staple, simple dish of fish n chips, that truly stole her culinary heart. So much so that she would often make that her go-to comfort meal throughout her life. She quickly became accustomed to life abroad and loved being a mother and a wife. Kay took great pride in the love and care she provided.

Frank and Joanna Kay's time in England came to an end about a year after Matthew was born where they then traveled back to the states. Now stationed at Castle AirForce Base, near Atwater, CA. Joanna’s adventures with Frank and baby Matt continued. Together they enjoyed off-base excursions into the mountains, along the coast, and at Yosemite National Park. Kay loved being outside, she loved fresh air, staying active, and feeling the sun on her face. Kay lived simply, never seeking the biggest or best and California life suited her well. Bringing her love of fashion as well as the latest trends from the UK and combining the style diversity of California, she found ways to create her iconic looks on a budget or with her own sewing machine. Kay wasn't about setting trends, she was about presenting her best self, quietly, with a keen sense of style.

Frank's final year of service eventually came to an end and the small family of three packed up everything they owned and hit the highway to travel across the country back to Toledo, OH. 

After returning home, Joanna Kay and Joan Elaine were reunited and began working in a salon which they eventually purchased and successfully ran together for many years. Trim Tresses, located on Monroe St., next to Penguin music store and became a staple in the community for the best and latest hairstyles.

In 1974 (two years after her sister Joan had her daughter Amy Beth), Frank and Kay welcomed their second child, Jennifer Lynn. Their family was complete and Kay was elated to have her little boy and girl, “one of each”, as she would often say. She and her twin both had their little blonde headed girls and would spend hours doing their hair and dressing them up. Joanna was on the cusp of an era of mothers working outside the home. She was breaking a mold of generations before her and never looked back or uttered a word of complaint. A woman of the 80's, again, quietly fierce, she served her family and her customers. Packing lunches, planning meals, running a business, running a house and never thought twice that she should be doing something different. 

Kay thrived in being busy, staying active, and always had a smile on her face, or a gracious word for her customers and friends. Even after closing their salon and continuing her career in administrative work, Kay’s work ethic never wavered and was an example that has been passed down to her children and grandchildren throughout the years.

Kay remained rooted in her strong Catholic faith, even through multiple moves throughout the Toledo area; attending St. Clement Parish, then Christ the King, St. Jude, and finally calling Little Flower her parish home. It was through Little Flower that she attended her first ACTS retreat and found that her community grew even more. Once a bit of a homebody, Kay grew to learn that she could share her gifts within her parish community through Altar Rosary Society, ACTS support, Parish decorating, and so much more. Kay won the hearts of everyone honored to be in her circle. Noone can dispute Joanna Kay loved the Lord with unwavering faith and she was devoted to intercessory prayer by praying the rosary before Mass. She loved Midnight Mass, Easter Vigil, listening to the Choir and glowed when her family's schedules could align and we all filled her dedicated pew at 4:30 Mass.

It is difficult to sum up 76 years of Joanna Kay into one small story, when a book could be written about how she touched so many lives with big impact through her small gestures of kindness, caring and love. Her oldest granddaughter, Ari wrote, “she was a kind and gentle woman on the surface, with a burning fighting spirit right below” and “could have given a professional fighter a run for their money”. 

Kay took pride in the love she showed, without being prideful. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and everything in between. She fine-tuned the art of baking chocolate chip cookies for her grandchildren Ari Riley and Luke Matthew. She made a perfectpie crust and could put a scald on fried chicken that would make you want to dance at the first bite. 

She loved “Jack and Diane” by John Mullencamp, and old school country and rock and roll. She loved to dance with her husband and was smooth as silk on the dance floor. Her smile lit up a room and made you forget you had ever had a worry in the world. Kay played a mean hand of cards, and bowled a fairly good frame. She loved sun tea, homemade pickles, her mother’s filled cookies, frying fish, canning applesauce, crocheting, gardening, riding her bike, and trying new recipes. 

Once Kay’s grandchildren began to arrive, she realized a love she never thought she could. Her heart grew bigger, her love stronger and more fierce. She has supported them in all they have done, never with judgment or harshness, but only with kindness, gentleness and hunger to see all that they could do and become. She has been their biggest cheerleader; which they will never doubt, just ask her youngest granddaughter Giada Marie who would see her grandmother's beaming face in the crowd at her volleyball games. 

Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and friend are all titles which brought Joanna joy, little did she know that it is we, the recipients of those titles, who have been blessed beyond measure. 

We know that now Joanna Kay is in the arms of our Lord, and the family she has longed to be reunited with, much like the days she spent across the world as that adventurous young woman. This is your biggest and best adventure yet Joanna, and you deserve it all. 

“You belong among the wildflowers.

You belong somewhere close to

Far away from your trouble and worry

You belong somewhere you feel free"

Forever in our hearts...

Dedicated by her second granddaughter, Sarah Katherine

In remembrance and celebration of Joanna Kay, we will gather at Little Flower Parish on Wednesday August 14, 2024 beginning at 10:00 am for visitation of family and friends, immediately followed by Mass beginning at 11:00. At the completion of Mass, we will proceed to St. Mary’s Assumption Cemetery where we will continue our farewell and lay Joanna to rest in the farm town home where her story began. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Joanna’s choice of foundations, St. Jude’s Cancer Research, after he favorite Saint.