Please forgive this moment of unsnarkiness — not to mention a lack of Friday Fun — but I bear sad news. Yesterday my mother-in-law, Joanne Brookhart, passed away. If you’re in the media business, you probably met her. And if you met her just once, you no doubt know what an incredible person she was. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in October, and her fight against the disease was courageous and inspirational. I’ll miss her dearly, but I take comfort knowing she passed down just about every one of her amazing qualities to her daughter, my wife. The obituary that will appear in the DMN, Star-Telegram, and Cleveland Plain-Dealer is after the jump.
Joanne Marie Smith Brookhart, born on March 12, 1948, died of ovarian cancer on July 26, 2007. Her doctor called her “perhaps the most stunning example of the power of the human spirit.” Her life was a blessing to celebrate, a time to dance, and a chance to witness the universe unfold. A graduate of Muskingum College with a Me.E.D. from TCU, Joanne had a 20-year career in Dallas/Fort Worth media sales, but she was a teacher every day of her life. She was a mentor, a mother, and a friend. She is now at peace in the presence of God. We, too, are at peace, remembering that to live on in the hearts of others is to never truly die. Joanne Marie Brookhart is survived by her mother, Jane Marie Smith; brothers Ed and James; husband Peter Waterman Brookhart; daughter Ashlie Marie Brookhart McGill and husband Adam; and son Brian Smith Brookhart and fiancée Taylor Haynes. A celebration service will be held at Wesley Hall at Highland Park United Methodist Church on July 30, 2007 at 3 p.m. There will be another celebration in Ohio at Muskingum College on August 25, 2007 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Joanne Brookhart Ovarian Cancer Fund at UT Southwestern. 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390.
To those of you planning on attending the celebration service on Monday, please wear colors. It won’t surprise you that Joanne requested a bright, lovely, joy-filled ceremony.
