Joanne Ellen Polivka

Joanne E. Mishtal Polivka, age 74, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on May 26, 2024, at Sunrise Senior Living, Carmel, Indiana, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Joanne was born in Detroit, MI, and spent her younger years living with her family and working in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Arnold High School and West Penn Hospital School of Nursing, both in Pittsburgh.  During her 42 years of marriage, Joanne worked as a nurse in multiple states.  She retired from Community Health Network-MedCheck several years ago.  

Joanne was a loving mother to her sons, Stephen (Brooke) Polivka of Westfield, IN, and Jonathan (Kathleen) Polivka of Cincinnati, OH, and grandmother to Benjamin, Mason, and Sloane. Joanne loved to bake and decorate delicious desserts as well as Ukrainian dishes. She also loved to sew, crochet, play sudoku, take a daily walk, and read. Joanne enjoyed planting flowers around her house and eating her home-grown tomatoes. Joanne always looked forward to visiting her mother’s relatives in Toronto and Winnipeg, Canada, and her beloved Pennsylvania with its hills.

Joanne was predeceased by her parents, John B. and Jeanne Bohonos Mishtal, as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her husband, Phillip; her sons and their families; her brothers, John (Phyllis) of Indiana, PA, and Joseph (Cindy) of Athens, TN; and her nephews, Aaron and David Mishtal.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Indiana, 50 91st St #100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 14598 Oak Ridge Rd, Carmel, IN 46032, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 4-6 PM and on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 10-11. The Funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 AM.

Her cremated remains will be interred at the West Newton Cemetery, West Newton, PA, at a future date. There will be a brief chapel service at the cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Funeral Home.