Joann Veit Hughes died Aug. 13, 2006. She was born April 27, 1920, in Union City, Indiana. At 23, after graduating from Indiana University, she came west to share married life with Joe Hughes of Ellensburg, Wash. She grew to love the Northwest and consider it her home. In 1954, she moved to Seattle where she began a 40-year career in the Highline School District. Joann taught first grade before moving to the practice of Speech Pathology for the district.

Retirement years were filled with national and international travel, family, volunteer work, friends, reading, music, sewing, knitting, and eating chocolate. Many friendships grew out of life at Silver Glen, a cooperative living community where she served for 10 years as chair of the Wellness Committee. Joann also worked in several capacities for Group Health where she was recognized as volunteer of the year in 1994. She also helped at the Bellevue Library book store. When her health declined she moved to Robinswood Pointe for assisted living.

Joann cherished family and friends above all and was loved by many. She was preceded in death by sisters Lois and Rachel; and is survived by daughters Nancy and Linda Hughes, Linda's husband Sy, granddaughter Heather Freedman and husband Evan, great-granddaughter Alta Freedman, nephews Harry and Bruce Faulkner and Richard Voss, and niece Suzanne Montgomery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Group Health Hospice, 1730 Minor Ave., No. 1500, Seattle, WA 98101. Her life will be honored at a memorial gathering on Sept. 3, at 2 p.m. in the Center Building at Silver Glen, 1750 152nd Ave. N.E., in Bellevue.