Joyce Mahaney

Joyce "Snowfeather" Mahaney, age 59, of Toledo, went to be with the Creator on Friday, June 23, 2006 at the Cleveland Clinic after a long, courageous battle with leukemia. She was born and raised on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation on January 31, 1947 to Alexander Jean Marie and Mary Cecilia (Poitra) Frederick in Belcourt, North Dakota. Joyce graduated from Turtle Mountain Community High School in 1965 and also graduated from Minot State College in 1970 with a Bachelor's of Science in Education and a minor in Library Science. She moved to Toledo in 1970 with her family, where she has resided ever since. Her life's work was preserving the Native American culture. She was president and founder of The American Indian Intertribal Association for the last two decades. Joyce fought endlessly for repatriation and burial rights. She was also highly involved with the Indian Child Welfare Act as well as drug and alcohol prevention in Indian communities. Joyce has organized and participated for many years in sacred ceremonies and cultural presentations across the country. She took part in many functions in the Maumee area, such as honoring past warriors of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, held every year at Sidecut Park, as well as organizing the summer solstice ceremony, the last one being held this past week. Most recently, Joyce participated in Maumee's All-America City Contest, in which she presented the historical background of Maumee. She also had strong ties with the Native American community in the Cleveland area. Joyce held Christmas and Thanksgiving parties for underprivileged children as well as an Easter egg hunt every year. Some of her other major accomplishments include the annual pow wow in Point Place, which she organized yearly. Joyce was a very strong, generous person who did not hesitate to take food to someone in need or to help pay for travel expenses for someone to get home. She made many friends over the years and cared deeply for the people that volunteered and participated in the Indian organization. Although she will be greatly missed, we know that her spirit lives on in all that is beautiful and in everything that she taught us.

Her parents have preceded her in death. Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Russ Mahaney; daughter: Kim (Rick) Kennedy; son: Patrick Mahaney; grandchildren: Olivia and Joseph; brothers: John (Betty) and Howard (Nanette) Frederick; great-aunts: Flavia and Lillian Poitra; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.
The family will receive guests on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 in the Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd., Toledo (419-473-0300) from 2 – 8:00 p.m. where a scripture service will take place at 7:00 p.m. Prayer Services will begin at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clement Church, 3030 Tremainsville Rd. Interment will follow in Toledo Memorial Park.

Those wishing to make contributions are asked to consider the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Northern Chapter or the Ojibwa Indian School, Belcourt, ND.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.newcomerfamily.com.

The family would like to give a special thank you to all of her doctors and caregivers, both here in Toledo and Cleveland for all of their loving care and support given through this difficult time, especially to Dr. Sekeres and Dr. Golshayan of the Cleveland Clinic.