Mary J. Good R.N., known to most by her middle name, Joann, passed away Dec. 11, 2010, after a two year battle with cancer. Born Aug. 28, 1930, in Detroit, she was the third child of Elmer and Mary Smith and had two older brothers, William and John. She attended St. Ambrose grade and high schools in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. She met and had her first date with future husband, Richard Good, September 1943, while both were in eighth grade at St. Ambrose. High School graduation for both was June 1948. She attended Providence Hospital School of nursing in Detroit from September 1948 to graduation in September 1951. On Feb. 23, 1952, she and Richard were married at St. Ambrose Church in Grosse Pointe Park. Joann worked as an RN at Notre Dame du Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe until 1957. During that period she had three children born at the same hospital. After husband, Richard, graduated from dental school in 1957 and entered the U.S. Navy, the family moved to North Carolina, where Richard was assigned to the Second Marine Division. It was here and for the next 26 years that Joann would be mother, father and nurse to her family while her husband was deployed with the marines, or aboard ship, or moving to another assignment. During that time, four more children were born. One, Peter, is deceased, and buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Joann's favorite 'duty station' was Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they were stationed twice. The first time with six children and the second with three. Joann was able to use her nursing skills at many duty stations while being a full-time mother. These included working at the Naval Hospital and Red Cross in Cuba, nursing home in the Washington, D.C. area, OR and ER in Maryland, staff nurse in South Carolina and the Red Cross again in North Carolina. Retirement from the Navy was 1983 when the family moved to Las Vegas in July. September 1983 saw Joann working as a staff nurse at the Shadow Lane nursing home. Three months later she was director of nursing. About three years later her Administrator and she moved to the new Cheyenne Care Center where Joann set up and ran the nursing department. Again, about four years later, both moved again to open a new facility-Life Care Center where she again was head of the nursing department. She and her husband both retired January 1995 and entered the world of "full-time RV'ers," living and traveling in a large motorhome 24/7/365. Their travels covered all of the U.S. lower 48, Mexico, Canada and Alaska. These trips were usually made with others and she always was available for first aid and advice. They were still living in their motorhome at the time of her demise. A very remarkable woman, nurse, mother and military wife who will be sorely missed by those left behind. She is survived by her husband, Richard, married just under 59 years; six children, Richard Jr. (Rick), John, Deborah, Valerie, Robert and Susan; grandchildren, Danny, Mark, Alexandra, David, Cassie, Brandy, Nicole, Michelle, Colt, Samantha, Ryanne, Paul and James; and one great-grandchild, Elle. Services will be Friday, Dec. 17, visitation starting at noon. Funeral starting at 1 p.m., both at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.
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