Joann B. Vrabel

February 18, 1937 to May 21, 2020

Joann B. Vrabel, of New Castle, passed away on May 21, 2020 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Pittsburgh's Seldom Scene on February 18, 1937, to William D. and Anna Marie Lambert.

Her family, having a camp in Marienville, Pennsylvania, eventually moved there permanently where she graduated from East Forest High School. Joann worked for the glass plant in Marienville and Bender Insurance in Clarion, Pennsylvania. She also worked with her Aunt Mitzie at Terafinalia Florist in Clarion, and waitressed at the Bucktail Hotel, where she met her husband of 39 years, Dennis Vrabel.

They married on July 11, 1981 and moved to New Castle. Joann was a busy housewife and loved to garden and tend her landscape and flower gardens. She had a love for books and was an avid reader. She also loved to crochet, making many blankets and outfits for family and friends' babies.

Joann loved to play bingo and won often. She enjoyed cooking and baking; her homemade pie crusts were amazing. An avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan, her favorite thing was attending Penguins hockey games with her daughter, Kim.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by twin brothers, William and Fredrick; a son, Richard P. Meyers; a brother, William G. Lambert, and wife, Lee; maternal grandparents, Fredrick and Margaret Geyer; paternal grandparents, William and Florence Lambert; brother-in-law, Jess Henretty; and Daniel Hetrick.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis, and daughter, Kimberly A. Zombeck, husband, John, of Centerville; two sisters, Margaret (Peg) Henretty of Marienville and Linda Hetrick of Meadville, Pennsylvania; and sister-in-law, Andrea and Lex Domico of Port Orange, Florida. She also leaves four beloved grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Following in her wishes, there are no services scheduled at this time. The family is asking that memorial contributions be made in Joann's name to the Lawrence County Humane Society, 628 Pearson Mill Road, New Castle, Pennsylvania 16101. Local arrangements were entrusted to the Noga Funeral Home Inc., 1142 Mill Street.

Lord God, you are attentive to the voice of our pleading. Give Joann eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on her forever. Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness, certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour. Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord.  Amen.