Joan Lawler, 85, Foley and formerly of Annandale

February 11, 1930 - April 22, 2015

Joan Elaine Lawler, age 85, of Foley and formerly of Annandale died, Wednesday April 22, 2015 at the Foley Nursing Center.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Thursday, April 30, 2015 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Annandale. The Rev. George Kallumkalkudy will officiate. Private family burial will be at a later date.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 AM Thursday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Annandale. Service with Dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.

Joan Lawler was born February 11, 1930 in St. Paul, Minnesota to George and Dorothy (Roberts) Hayden at the home of her paternal grandmother, Mary Vogele Hayden at 1872 Goodrich, St. Paul, Minnesota. She grew up at 2169 Stephens Street in Roseville, Minnesota and attended Lauderdale Grade School and Murray High School. She attended the University of Minnesota where she studied to become a medical technologist, graduating in 1952. Joan Elaine Hayden married Val Joseph Lawler on September 20, 1952 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in St. Paul. They had one child, Mark Stephen, born June 28, 1953 and he preceded her in death at the young age of 41 from cancer. Joan worked at various hospitals in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area during polio epidemic. In later years she worked as a Veterinary Technologist, volunteered on numerous blood drives, farmed, owned her own veterinary supply business and raised sheep. She was a Cub Scout and 4H Leader for many years and volunteered at her church.

She is survived by her grandson; Ben (Anna) Lawler, Rogers, great grandsons; Bryce and Marcus Lawler, siblings; Dorothy (Robert) McCarthy, Roseville; Mary (Robert) Carlson, Foley; daughter-in-law, Laurie (Mark) Lawler, Annandale, 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 1 great niece and 1 great nephew.

Memorials are preferred to; Regions Hospital Foundation for Alzheimer Research Center, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-2595 or; Our Lady of Peace, 2076 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104.