JoEllen McAvoy

Visitation:  Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.  Service:  Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 a.m.  Location:  First Congregational UCC in Waukesha

JoEllen McAvoy, 69, of Waukesha passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Hartford, on June 18, 1950, one of three daughters born to Philip and Marjorie (Uber) Martin.
JoEllen was a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and earned her master’s degree in education from Carroll University. She was a longtime and well-loved teacher for Waukesha Public Schools and lived by the motto “Quiet rewards as a passion-driven life long teacher”.
JoEllen was a mentor to aspiring young teachers and a member of Education Association of Waukesha, the Waukesha County Retired Educator’s Association where she served on the leadership team and the Waukesha Education Foundation. She was a community leader, a role model to many and loved her neighborhood stitchery group. JoEllen was an active member of First Congregational UCC in Waukesha where she built many friendships. She was an avid reader and a member of many book clubs. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren who were her pride and joy.
She will be forever missed by her beloved daughters, Erin (Tom) Saeger of Round Rock, TX and Megan (Henry) Kazmirski of Baldwinsville, NY; her cherished grandchildren, Jack, Collin and Tristan Saeger and Addison and Ian Kazmirski. She was the dear sister of Mary Lynne Schultz of Cedarburg and Jane Martin of Waukesha and devoted aunt of Scott (Kathy) Schultz, Todd (Debbie) Schultz and Chad (Julie) Schultz. She is further survived by other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation was held on Monday, Feb. 3, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Visitation continued on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. until time of the 10:30 a.m. funeral service at First Congregational UCC, 100 E. Broadway Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186. Reverend Brittany Barber presided. A celebratory reception followed the service. Private burial for family and close friends was held Tuesday afternoon at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to First Congregational UCC. JoEllen also would want everyone to spend a few extra hours with the children in their lives, preferably reading a book with them.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services was honored to serve the family. For further information please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.randledable.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.