Joanne M. (Hellmig) Shanks

Joanne Marie (Hellmig) Shanks, 78, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026, after a courageous and grace-filled battle with respiratory disease surrounded by her loved ones. 

Born on July 30, 1947, in Southwest Philadelphia, Joanne was the youngest of five children. After graduating from John Bartram High School, she began her career at Atlantic Richfield Company, where she met Cliff—her devoted husband of 57 years.

Joanne and Cliff built their life together in Glenolden, where they raised their daughters, Patricia (Patti) and Christine (Tina), creating a home filled with love, care, and constant devotion to family. Joanne had a natural calling to care for others, which she carried into her work as a medical assistant in cardiology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. To her patients, she was a source of comfort, reassurance, and kindness.

Joanne had an incredible creative gift and an eye for detail. Whether she was sewing, painting, wallpapering, embroidering, or crafting, everything she touched was done with pride and purpose. Her home reflected her warmth and care—welcoming, beautiful, and always filled with love.

Nothing brought Joanne more joy than her family. She was a devoted mother and an endlessly loving grandmother to Eamon, Eliza, and Keegan, who were the light of her life. She delighted in their laughter, their accomplishments, and simply being together. Some of her happiest moments were spent on treasured trips to Ocean City, surrounded by those she loved.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Margaret Hellmig, her brothers Charles, Harold, and Carl and her adored dog, Abby. She is survived by her beloved husband Clifford Shanks; her daughters Patti Johnson (Rich) and Tina Brennan (Jim); her cherished grandchildren; her sister Ellen Dushkewich (Robert), and her sister-in-law Millie Conyers (Bill), along with many extended family members and friends who will miss her dearly.

Joanne will be remembered for her gentle heart, quiet strength, and the selfless love she gave so freely to others. She never asked for much—only that those she loved would be healthy and happy. Her love lives on in the family she devoted her life to and in the countless lives she touched along the way.

A Celebration of Joanne’s Life will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Our Lady of Fatima, 1 Fatima Drive, Secane, PA 19018, where family and friends will gather for a Viewing from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Joanne will then be laid to rest at SS Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joanne’s memory to the American Lung Association at action.lung.org, honoring her brave fight and supporting others facing respiratory illness, or to the Autism Speaks at autismspeaks.org, an organization close to her heart that supports individuals and families through advocacy, education, and compassion. 

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