Joanne Bell Antczak, 81, left this life peacefully on April 11, 2016.  A strong, loving and remarkable woman, Joanne was the mother of five, stepmother of three, "Honey" (grandmother) to eight, great grandmother of three, sister to two, and loving friend to many.

Her children, stepchildren and their spouses:

• Michael(Jane) Knisely of Asheville, NC
• Anne (Gwen) Knisely of Kingwood, TX
• Joseph Knisely of Dearborn
• Karen Knisely-Pingston (Steve) of Royal Oak
• Patrick (Melissa) Knisely of Royal Oak
• Steve (Jennifer)Antczak of Darien, CT
• David (Lauren) Antczak of Del Mar, CA
• Michael Antczak (deceased)

Her grandchildren:

• Kirsten and Caitlyn Knisely of Los Angles, CA
• Jackson and Lucas Knisely, and Grace Pingston, all of Royal Oak
• Brian Antczak of Darien
• Claire and Amelia Antczak of Del Mar

Her great grandchildren:

• John MacLennan of Westminster, CO
• Elliot and Laura Steadman of Lakewood, CO

Her siblings:

• Fletcher and Mona Bell of Virginia Beach, VA
• Lelia Donovan of Norfolk, VA

Born April 5, 1935, in Norfolk, Virginia, Joanne was the eldest child of Joseph and Grace Bell.  She grew up in Norfolk, graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School and, in 1953, met and married Carl Knisely, father of her five children.  Joanne and Carl and their growing family eventually put down roots in Dearborn, where Joanne lived until her death.

A talented writer and artist in her own right, Joanne never had the opportunity to pursue her talents professionally, but always loved the arts.  She was an avid supporter of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Stratford Theatre in Ontario. She passed along her love of music and art to her children and grandchildren, many of whom make their livings as writers, artists, teachers, actors and musicians.

Joanne was a brave supporter of her children, a fierce advocate for the less fortunate, and a defender of those who could not defend themselves.  She was a lifelong supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Focus: HOPE.

After her 1995 marriage to Norbert Antczak, now deceased, Joanne discovered her love of travel and adventure.  She and Norb traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

Above all, Joanne loved her family.  She penned her own life story to help us remember the early years.  With her sister Lelia, she researched and chronicled her birth families' lineages back to the 1600's.  Whether vacationing with family at her beloved Topsail Beach in North Carolina, or preparing huge "nuthin' fancy" family feasts every Thanksgiving and most Sundays, or simply "closing my eyes and listening to all of you talk," as she would often say later as her time wound down, Joanne loved surrounding herself with the big, loud, rambunctious family that she created.

Although her final weeks were difficult, she never lost her faith, and always insisted she had lived a full, wonderful and blessed life.  By her own example, she taught us how to live purposeful lives, and she showed us how to die with grace.

A celebration of Joanne's life will be held Saturday, April 16, from 1 pm to 4 pm, at the Dearborn chapel of Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, 22546 Michigan Avenue.  Father Leo Sabourin, pastor of St. Constance Catholic Church in Taylor, will officiate a memorial service at 3 pm.  Joanne's wishes were to be cremated and to have her cremated remains buried on her mother's grave in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk.  Memorial contributions may be made to Angela Hospice, Livonia.