Joanne Hodes

Joanne Christine (Byrne) Hodes, age 65 went home to her Heavenly Father, while at home in Westerly, RI on Wednesday March 29th. Joanne is the daughter of the late John (Jack) Byrne and Barbara Byrne formerly of Hope Valley and Westerly. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Walter (Bud) Hodes and her two children, Theresa (Hodes) Grace and her husband William of Enfield, CT, and Daniel Hodes and his wife Michelle of Tiverton, RI. She is also survived by her three young grandchildren, Vincenza (Chenzy), Isaac, and Finn Hodes who will miss their Grammie very much!
Joanne spent her early childhood in Harmony, RI and moved to Hope Valley as a young teenager, where she attended and graduated from Chariho High School in 1969. She briefly attended Salve Regina University and then met and married Bud Hodes in 1975. Bud and Joanne moved to Westerly where they raised 2 children and made a life together. Joanne began working as a Director of Religious Education in 1983 at Our Lady of Victory parish in Ashaway, and found a career that would last a lifetime. Over roughly the last 35 year she labored in the vineyard of religious education for OLV, St. Pius X in Westerly and most recently St. Joseph in Hope Valley, where she was working up until the day of her passing. She was an incredibly devout and faithful Catholic, wife and mother, who did everything with a quiet piety that was born from a fruitful marriage and prayer life. She spent her last days preparing for retirement, enjoying her grandkids ages 5, 3, and 2, making cookies with them and reading them stories, and making her almost daily pilgrimage to the Cooked Goose restaurant, where she and Bud could be seen after morning Mass most days, even the morning of her passing was spent in just such a way. She will be missed by many, and her family wishes to thank all our amazing friends for their outpouring of grace and prayers during this difficult time.
Funeral Arrangements are being prepared through Buckler Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Westerly, RI. A Wake will be held at Buckler- Johnston Funeral home, on Monday April 3rd. Calling hours are 4-7pm. The funeral mass will be held at her parish, St. Pius X, 44 Elm St Westerly RI at 11am on Tuesday April 4th followed by a ceremony at the grave, and a reception to celebrate her grace filled life from 1-3pm at the Sea Goose restaurant at 265 Post Rd in Westerly.

---

 Service Information