Joanne Gardner

Joanne Gardner

passed away at her home on April 25

th

, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in New York and raised in Connecticut.  After graduation from the University of Connecticut with a degree in education she moved to Boston.  She decided that her true calling was in the grocery business and worked as an assistant store manager there.  She met the love of her life, Jerry Hunninghake, at a wedding in Connecticut.  He was called the “Phoenix Flash” but proved to be more than a flash-in-the-pan.  She moved to Arizona in 1981 and was hired as an assistant store manager for Fry’s Food Stores.   Soon after that she was hired as a grocery buyer in their home office.  She married Jerry in a wonderful wedding in Boston in 1982.  Over a 36 year career she was also the Director of Grocery, Director of Buyers, and Pricing Analyst for Fry’s.  She was regarded by many people in the grocery industry as one of the smartest people they had ever met.  For many of her co-workers when there was a problem to be solved Joanne was the first one to turn to.  Her love of God and family was the priority in her life, followed by a love of reading and traveling.  Joanne was also a volunteer for the Child Crisis Center for many years with most of her duties occurring with the younger children and infants.  She is preceded in death by her parents William and Madeline Gardner.  She is survived by her husband Jerry Hunninghake, sons Kevin and Daniel, and granddaughters Keira and Lily.  She is also survived by her siblings; Eileen LaChapelle and Jack, Marilyn, and Robert Gardner, plus many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  There will be a small family service. Words cannot convey how much Joanne will be missed.  In lieu of flowers please send donations to

www.riordanclinic.org

for the research and treatment of cancer and other chronic illnesses.