JoAnna Ross

JoAnna Ross May 5, 1947 – February 21, 2026

JoAnna was born on May 5, 1947, in Hartford, Ky. She and her three girls moved to Hessville in 1971. JoAnna had purchased a three-bedroom slab in a nice family neighborhood. Hessville is where these four women grew up together, a house full of girls. There was a lot of life, a lot of tears, a lot of struggles along the way, but mostly there was just a lot of love and laughter.

As a single mother, JoAnna was able to provide for her girls through her employment at the local wallpaper mill, Collins & Aikman, AKA C&A. It was there that she met most of her many friends. She was known to work hard, but to also play hard, LOL.

JoAnna enjoyed watching her kids play ball, she played in multiple pool leagues throughout her life and has won awards for hitting the 8-ball in on the break. The team called her “MamaJ”. The one thing she enjoyed most in life was visiting with her kids, grandkids, and her great grandkids when they would come over to swim. Those were the best of times.

JoAnna met the love of her life, Jim Ross, on July 3rd in 1992. A year later, July 3rd, 1993 they were married. Their kids were fully grown and had young families of their own. Everyone came together and over time became a well-blended family. JoAnna and Jim shared 32 loving years of marriage. They established a large family consisting of six children, sixteen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

JoAnna is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Louise Stone and her daughter Tracey Pirtle.

JoAnna is survived by her husband, Jim Ross; her children, Debbie Pirtle, Trish (John) Rosich, Sue Craig, Tracie Willis (Keith Ward), Jim (Laura) Ross, Mandie (Chris) Swanson; sixteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Visitation for JoAnna will be Friday, February 27, 2026 from 9:00am - 12:30pm at Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8941 Kleinman Road, Highland, IN  46322, with the funeral service to begin promptly at 12:30pm and interment to follow at Chapel Lawn Cemetery.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper - Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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