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1946 Joann 2016

Joann M. Dufault

September 1, 1946 — March 16, 2016

JOANN MARIE DUFAULT

“Life begins at the touch of death.” ~Luke 2:29

Joann Marie Dufault entered eternal life with the Lord on March 16, 2016, following her courageous battle with cancer. Her final earthly moments were shared with a gathering of her closest family and friends in her home under the care of Hospice.

Born September 1, 1946, the youngest of 10 children to Joseph and Emma Hince, Joann grew up in Red Lake Falls, MN and attended St. Joseph’s Grade School and Mount St.Benedict High School. While employed after graduation with Bell Telephone Company, Joann enjoyed a courtship with a gentleman named Francis Dufault of Gentilly, MN. Francis wasted no time in asking for “Joannie’s “hand in marriage, as he truly had found his life partner and “better half.” She obliged him, and the two were united in marriage in June of 1965. They celebrated 50 years together in June, 2015, and as Fran would say, “we are still dating”! Their first home was established in Gentilly, but in 1967 they moved to Moorhead, MN to build their life-long dream home and raise their 4 daughters and one son. Joann’s honorable commitment to a homemaking career was priority especially when her children were preschool age. When her children entered school, Joann’s tremendous strengths in caregiving and compassion for the sick blossomed as she explored a new career path in patient care and nursing assistance, finding rewarding employment at St. Ansgar’s Hospital and later with Meritcare/Sanford Medical Center and Orthopedics Associates where Joann worked for many years until just weeks before her death.
Joann emanated radiance, class, courage, modesty, humility and most importantly, a deep and intimate faith in God which was, in turn, instilled in her children and grandchildren. This faith was rarely shaken by life’s trials and adversity, and was manifested in Joann’s numerous acts of charity and volunteerism in her church community and beyond. She served at St. Joseph’s Church as funeral director, parish homebound visitor, communion minister, lector, choir member and numerous committees. Joann and her girls especially looked forward to hosting the candy booth at the annual church bazaar, recognizing the importance of maintaining excellent “quality control” of the candy product through hands-on taste testing.

Joann’s sense of adventure paired with an infectious laugh and incredible sense of humor accompanied her on many a family vacation. Providing that 3 minimal criteria were met when choosing a vacation destination, that being a nearby casino, a local craft marketplace, and a house of worship, Joann rarely turned down a good dare to try something new and feed her adventurous appetite. With seldom a hazardous outcome, Joann discovered the exhilaration of Honduran tree top Ziplining, Jamaican waterfall climbing, stingray feeding frenzies and serenades and a burning good shot of tequila at the local Senor Frog’s.

Those continuing on in celebrating Joann’s life include her husband, Francis, and her four daughters and their families: Barbara Torgerson Kevin, Michael, Rachel of Moorhead, Rebecca Bruce Engbrecht, Amber, Kayla of Bullhead City, AZ, Kimberly the Late Mark Loock, Nicholas, Bethany of Moorhead, Jennifer Jeffrey Castor, Nathan, Anthony, Megan, Ryan of Dilworth. Joann is also survived by her 3 siblings Richard Hince, of Arizona, Madonna Bernard DesRoches Fargo, and Yvonne Joseph Noel of Moorhead and many wonderful nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues. She will be deeply missed. She is preceded in death by her son Kevin, her parents Joseph and Emma, her siblings Robert and Leroy Hince, Yvonne and Elizabeth Hince, Evelyn Prudhomme, and Laura Steinert, and her son-in-law Mark Loock.

May Joann’s love for life, her generous spirit and her deep faith live on in the hearts of all those who had the privilege of sharing her earthly journey with her.

Visitation: Monday, March 21, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with prayer service at 7 p.m., in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN.

Funeral: Tuesday, March 22, at 11:00 a.m., in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment: St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joann M. Dufault, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

218 South 10th St, Moorhead, MN 56560

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Service

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

218 South 10th St, Moorhead, MN 56560

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Cemetery

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery

11th St N, Moorhead, MN 56560

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