Joanie Hershkowitz

Joanie Hershkowitz, 79, of Decatur, TN passed away September 3, 2018 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga following an extended illness. She was born in Mt Vernon, New York and had been a resident of Decatur since 2010 coming from Honesdale, PA.

Joanie was an avid reader belonging to several book clubs. She also enjoyed gardening and cooking. Joanie was a foster mom to over 200 foster children. She adopted four of them of which two were able to attend her funeral service (Sean and Kim). She was a published poet and loved to write.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Marietta Spicer; her brother, Raymond Spicer; and her son, Darryl Bazewicz.

Survivors include her husband of almost 19 years, Navy Veteran, John Hershkowitz of Decatur; niece, Tracey Gardner (Jerry) of Decatur; children Sean Bazewicz of Pennsylvania and Kimberly Bazewicz Koenitzer (Ian) of Canada; three grandsons and one granddaughter; and a special caregiver and best friend, Jane Mucklow of Athens, TN.

A gathering of family was held September 5, 2018 at Bowers Funeral Home in Decatur.