A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Mary Joel Gleeson Stern, 91, of Newark, will be held at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 10 A.M., Friday, November 12, 2021, with Msgr. Paul Enke as celebrant.  Inurnment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Joel, a longtime parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, died at Arlington Care Center on Monday, October 25, 2021.  She was born in Newark, Ohio on March 8, 1930, to the late Karl and Helen (Ginter) Kuster.

For many years, Joel was the payroll clerk with the Newark City Auditor's Office and the office manager at Newark Vision Clinic.  Following her retirement, Joel was an active community volunteer with Hospice of Central Ohio, Licking County Food Pantry, Midland Theater, Weathervane Playhouse, and the North Elementary Early Reading Program. She was a member of the Licking County Garden Club, and an avid Ohio State Buckeye Football fan, never missing a game.

She will be greatly missed by her sons; Stephen (Susan) Gleeson and Joseph (Marilyn) Gleeson; daughter, Beth Snelling-Stewart; 8 grandchildren, Ryan (Alice), Lanie, Piper, Patrick (Kathryn), Virgil, Trevor (Moena), Jacob, and Jillian (Christopher); 9 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Joel was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Hicks; her first husband, Michael J. Gleeson; second husband, Rudolph Stern; and brother, David (Mary) Kuster

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Joel's name be made to a cause very dear to Joan in support of her beloved granddaughter, Krissa Layne; The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, 510 E. North Broadway, Columbus, OH 43214;

REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, is assisting the family with arrangements.  To share your memory of Joel or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com