Joan "Annie" Dearth

COAL CITY— Joan (Annie) L. Dearth, 83, of Coal City, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018.
Annie was born on June 29, 1935, in Morris, to Alfred W. and Virginia (nee Clinesmith) Dearth.
Joan lived most of her life in Coal City, graduating from Coal City High School in 1953. In 1981, she moved with her parents to live in Manhattan. In her travels, she found Florida and fell in love with it, so in 1991 she and her mother became snowbirds ,in Winter Haven, FL, with them moving permanently to Sebring, FL in 2000, and returning to Coal City in 2015.
Annie attended Nursing School, in Joliet, and joined Dr. Carlos Rubiano MD in his medical practice, in Manhattan. She worked with Dr. Rubiano for 37 years, retiring in 1991. This was her true calling and she was honored by the town proclaiming   “Joan Dearth Day” as Dec. 15. Annie will always be remembered in Manhattan for her ever loving care that she gave to all the patients and the unending love she had for her career.
Included in Annie's many travels were Bogota, Columbia, Dr. Rubiano's home, and Europe. She loved going to Las Vegas with her parents and friends to play the slot machines and trips to Hawaii where she enjoyed the fishing.
Annie's most favorite pass time was enjoying the company of her nephews Steve and Mike and niece Caren Dearth. Although she never had children of her own, she always considered them as her own. She also enjoyed the time she got to spend later in life with her great and great-great nieces and nephews. She had a large collection of beanie babies and enjoyed giving them to each of the great-great nieces and nephews as gifts. Joan also made her own “stamp it up” birthday cards which were such a delight to receive in the mail from her.
In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to colon, bone and then liver cancer as well. She battled a good fight until there was no battling left in her to fight against this ugly disease.
Annie is survived by her brother Alfred J. Dearth (Wilberta Nevin-Dearth) living in Libby, MT.; nephews: Steve Dearth (Wendy Brown-Dearth), of Gardner, and Mike Dearth (Terri Phillips-Dearth), of Coal City; niece Caren (Dearth) Solheim (Scott Solheim), of Bolingbrook; Bobbi Phillips-Anderson (Bruce Anderson), of Coal City,  and a very special person, Amparo (Rubiano) Boscarino, from Watkinsville, GA. Also surviving are her great-nephews: Eric (Meg), Chris (Alyssa), Craig, and Kyle (Emily) Dearth, her great niece Katie Dearth (Steven). Included are her step-great nephews: Shane Mallin (Jen), and Andrew Anderson (Danielle)along with her step-great niece Audrey Nicholson. Annie so loved her great-great nephews: Carson, Kiptyn, Zachary, Gavin and Ethan and great great nieces: Lexi, Aubree, Kenley, Louise, Lillian, Ember, Edith, Adalina, Madyson and Harlee. She also leaves behind many friends in Florida and Illinois.
Preceding her in death is her father, Alfred W. Dearth in 1990 and her mother Virginia Dearth in 2006. She is also preceded in death by her step-great nephew, Kevin Anderson in 2017.
Cremation rights have been accorded.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Ferrari Funeral Chapel, 1044 Ferrari Dr., Coal City, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 with Pastor Bradley Shumaker officiating.
The family will receive friends and family from 4 p.m. until the time of the service.
Interment at Manhattan Center Cemetery in Manhattan. will be held at a later date.  
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Annie's name to Coal City United Methodist Youth Group or any charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.ferrarifuneral.com