Joanne Day Barnhart

DAY BARNHART, Joanne Elizabeth “Joni”, passed away at the young age of 61 and was preceded in death by her loving husband the late Lyle D. “Sparkey” Barnhart  in the year 2015.  Joni was a loving sister to Marcella Sandlin (Les) Meeks, Rebecca Sandlin (Dale) Coleman, Gary (Dee) Day, Greg (Dana) Day, Lena B. Sandlin, Mark (Kerri) Day, Philip Day, and the late Judy McCune, and Joyce (Terry) Jones. Daughter of the late Ralph and Maxine Day. Daughter-in-law of Betty Barnhart. Also survived by  numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, as well as her  nine feline companions.

Joni grew up in West Chester and a graduate of Lakota High School in 1979.  Joni attended Eastern Kentucky University, the Cincinnati School of Medical Assisting and was sought after by some of the finest physicians.  She was employed in a variety of fields including cardiology, integrated medicine, osteopathic medicine IC, nephrology, family medicine and ended her career at GE Tri-Health.  She had considerable knowledge as a result of her work experience and was  a life-speaker and spoke life into all she met.  She was a steadfast warrior in caregiving and she implemented that throughout her life.

She continued to work at Tri-Health even though she battled the last three years with stage 4 pancreatic cancer all the while receiving treatments.  

As a result of being the sister to 4 brothers, she was a Tom boy at heart that played better than them and  grew into a beautiful young and gracious woman.  She was an avid sportswoman playing softball for the Blue Ash Airport Softball Team, known for her cooking before the “JOY OF COOKING” was a thing.  Family and Friends enjoyed those culinary skills during holidays, family gatherings and life events.

While she never gave up the fight with her medical background she knew the outcome most likely, she tried to make the most and spent as much time with family as possible.  The last year was to be a year of memories created.

Memorable family trips and special visits to ensure that all had a lasting holdfast memory for each sibling, niece or nephew.

Trips to Wrightsville Beach, Las Vegas, Kalamazoo, and Palm Harbor to name a a few.  During the last days, family time was spent at her home with loved ones.

Her home is now empty without her sense of humor, her laughter, the rattling of pots and pans and most of all her smart comments…which are being recalled daily, “remember when…and you sound like Joni…” “Oh, come on….

 Rub my leg…  Get me up…Can I have…Who made this up?…What are you doing?  Where are we going?  You can’t drive…Thank you…I love you…and can I have some ice cream!  She was the brightest light on our family chandelier.

Joni passed with her family by her side and Jesus in her Heart.

Memorial Visitation will be held at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6410 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Twp., OH 45044 on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 from 4 PM until time of funeral service at 5 PM. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.