Joann R. Lee Loving Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Friend
Joann R. Lee, 77, formerly of Spring Street Hill., Cuba,
passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Gutherie Robert Packer Hospital,
Sayre, Pennsylvania, after a brief illness.
Born on February 16, 1940, in Albion New York she was a
daughter of Walter Howard and was raised by her mother Pearl Dalava and step
father Melvin Smith, Sr. On August 25,
1957, in Cuba, New York she married Lum Lee who predeceased her January 5,
2004. Joann attended Cuba School and later received her GED. She had worked for as an assembly operator
for Acme Electric of Cuba, Motorola for ten years, and then went to work for
Prestolite in Arcade, where she retired in 1992. She had a kind, caring, and
generous spirit that loved people and was always looking for ways to make
people happy. In 1982, Joann was
especially proud to have been able to complete paperwork that brought her
husband’s mother to the United States to visit, reuniting her husband with his
mother after 42 years. In her later
years, technology was a great asset to her stay at the Wellsville Manor, making
it possible to stay in contact with family both near and far. She always looked forward to returning to
Cuba because she always considered Cuba her home. She leaves behind 3 sons,
Charles (Lori) Lee, of Olean; Michael (Karen) Lee; Gene (Christine Small) Lee,
of Weston Mills; A daughter, Brenda
Austin of Cuba; Her grandchildren, Cassie Austin, Chad Austin, Courtney
(Trevor) Lasher, Brandon (Stephany) Lee, Brittney Lee; 2 Great Grandchildren, Carly
VanDerlinde and Kevin Lasher, Lucy Lasher, Alden Lee, and Lilly Lee; 2 sisters,
Connie Smith of Ceres, Diana Whitcher of Cuba; 4 brothers, Royal “Sunny” Smith of Cuba, Melvin (Donna) Smith, Jr. of Cuba, Marty
(Luanne) Smith of Cuba, Asher Smith of Wellsville ; Many Nieces, Nephews, and
Cousins and a special friend Michael Merry of Scio.
In addition to her loving husband Lum and parents she was
predeceased by a son-in-law, Philip Austin, 3 sisters Ida Carey, Verna Warner,
amd Eva Willetts, and a brother John Howard. Friends will be received at the
Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba
on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 3-7 p.m. where funeral services will be
held on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Susan Block, pastor
of Christ United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Cuba
Cemetery, Cuba, New York. Memorials in Joann's name may be made to the Cuba
Chamber of Commerce, Legacy Fund, 5 West Main Street, Cuba, NewYork 14727. Online
condolences may be sent at www.rinkerfuneralhome.com.
