Joan Killian-Fisk

February 9, 1947 — January 16, 2025

Joan Killian Fisk, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, was welcomed into heaven on January 16, 2025.
Joan was born on February 9, 1947, to Jack and Miriam Killian. She was brought home to their small farm in Springfield Township, where she would remain for most of her life. She was raised alongside her younger brother, Tim, and had a childhood filled with love. She attended St. Paul's grade school and Springfield High School, remaining an active alumna of both institutions throughout her life. After graduating from the University of Akron, Joan started her career in Holmes County, teaching grade school in Berlin. While living with her beloved Aunt Blanche in Millersburg, Joan was an active member of the Woman's Guild at St. Peters Catholic Church.
In 1970, Joan met her first husband, and they married in 1971. Soon after, Joan became a mother to her first daughter, Jen. In 1978, she moved her growing family back to Akron and purchased her childhood home from her parents. She added a second daughter, Sara, to the family and left full-time teaching to focus on her girls.
She joined her parents and brother at Killian Latex, beginning a new career as a member of the family business. She loved her community and was an active member of the Springfield Woman's Club. While Joan enjoyed working alongside her family and keeping busy in her community, she valued the time she spent with her daughters most.
Joan was a wonderful mother and provided her daughters with lasting memories on the farm. One memory in particular was the fun and excitement of the end-of-the-year classroom picnics Joan would host for each of the girls' classes, a tradition she continued for her grandchildren.
By the time the girls were in middle school, Joan took on the challenge of single parenthood. Despite the circumstances, she remained strong-willed, doing everything in her power to see her daughters succeed. Joan ensured her daughters felt her unwavering support and unconditional love in all of their endeavors. Joan told the girls that they were "The Three Musketeers" and from then on it was all for one and one for all.
On July 9th, 1993, Joan married her husband, Jim Fisk. Together they watched Jen and Sara grow and shared 26 years of marriage until he died in 2020.
After her daughters were married and had children of their own, Joan was more than delighted to fill the role of Gram. As she did for her daughters, Joan filled her grandchildren's lives with endless joy and opportunity, encouraging them to take on any challenge presented to them and learn from the experience. When Joan was not busy taking her grandkids on adventures, she was arranging outings for her beloved St. Paul group. Joan prioritized finding time to spend with those she loved, and her childhood friends were often high on the list.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Fisk, and her parents, Miriam and Jack Killian. She is survived & remembered by daughters Jen Fath-Pham (Hai) and Sara Fath-Benoit (Mike); grandchildren Hannah Benoit-Wymer (Trent), Natalie Pham, Jack Benoit, and Ethan Pham; brother and sister-in-law Timothy and Aleta Killian; nieces Jane Killian (Andrew Johnson) and Kate Killian-Weingart (Dan); and lifelong friends Dot Kirk, Deb Lyons, Janet Wiggington, and Chris Tawney.
Thank you to Mary, Nicole, Carrie, and Phoebe for offering Joan the best care possible in her final months. The joy and comfort brought to Joan by these ladies will be forever appreciated.
Visitation will be Friday, January 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Anthony Funeral Home of Green, 4178 Massillon Rd. (corner of Massillon and Steese Roads, entrance off Steese). Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, at Nativity of The Lord Jesus Catholic Church, 2425 Myersville Rd. in Akron. Luncheon to immediately follow the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to a charity of your choice in Mom's memory.

Death Is Nothing At All

Death is nothing at all. It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you,

and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone.

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.