Jo-Ann R. (Angle) Lake

Jo-Ann R. Lake Athol - On the morning of Sunday July 22, 2012, JoAnn (Angle) Lake slipped peacefully from the arms of her loving husband into the arms of her Savior.  Her passing concluded a two and a half year battle with ovarian cancer.  Born Dec. 3, 1942 in New York City, she was the daughter of Robert and Viola (Jacobson) Angle, and was raised in Riverdale, New York and St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. As a child she was a ballerina in New York City, culminating with a performance at the Wintergarden. As a student at Boca Ciega High School, in Gulfport, Florida, she was a member of the choir and drama club, graduating with the class of 1960.  JoAnn was crowned Miss St. Petersburg Beach and competed in the Miss Florida Pageant in 1962 and 1963. JoAnn was married to Roy V. Lake of Athol, at Trinity College Chapel in Hartford, Connecticut on June 19, 1965, the same year in which she graduated from the University of South Florida.  She went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Central Connecticut State University in 1970 and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin in 1976. Always a lover of music, she was also a member of the University of Wisconsin Philharmonic Chorus, which performed original works of Rachmaninoff during her time there. JoAnn taught in the Ellington, Connecticut School systems until moving to Athol in 1981, where she became of beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics and went on to become a Sales Director with Mary Kay in 1983.   JoAnn was an active member of the Athol Congregational Church since 1981. She was most known for her involvement with music, singing in the choir, and supporting music in the church. She was also involved in Missions, youth choir, served as clerk, at monthly food dinners. She was also an active and devoted member of the Athol-Royalston Education Foundation. JoAnn is survived by her husband, Roy V. Lake of Athol, a daughter, Carin (Lake) LeSeure and her husband JK  and three grandchildren, Cooper, Mara and Kristian LeSeure of Stow, Ohio, a son, Christopher H. Lake and his partner Tammy Taylor of Athol, a sister, Rita Lee (Angle) Appell and her husband Sonny of Birmingham, AL, a brother, Robert P. Angle and his wife Carol Beth of St. Petersburg, FL, brother-in-law, James Lake and his wife Nancy of Athol, as well as nine nieces and nephews, their children and a number of cherished extended family and friends. Calling hours will be held Thursday, July 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Higgins- O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol. A Memorial Service will be held at Athol Congregational Church, 1225 Chestnut Street, Athol on Friday, July 27th at 10:30 A.M. with the Rev. Dr. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, pastor officiating. A reception will follow the service in Fellowship Hall.  In lieu of flowers, JoAnn asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-9376 or to the Athol Congregational Church “Book of Memory”, 1225 Chestnut St., Athol, MA  01331.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });