Joanne Mudry died from congestive heart failure at 10:41 p.m. PT on Friday, December 26, 2025, in her apartment in San Ramon, California. She was 91 years old. Prior to her death, Joanne was in hospice care for 15 days.

Joanne was born in the midst of the Great Depression on June 15, 1934, in Pittsburgh, PA, to Kjeld Soogard Bork and Mildred Emma (Berberich) Bork. She is survived by her son Guy Gardner (Susan) San Ramon, CA, Beth Gardner Richey, her daughter-in-law, Freedom, PA, and by grandchildren Rebecca Berger (Zachary), Stephen Gardner (Carrie), Lee Gardner (Anna), Shannon Gardner (Ashley), Matthew Gardner (Jeane), Karissa (Jackson), and Katy Klamp (Brian).  Also survived by a foster daughter, Mary Gerber (Mick).  Joanne acted as a “bonus” grandmother to two families who lost their grandmothers (Nelson Family in Taylorsville, UT, and Wahlstrom family in Cranberry, PA).  Preceding Joanne in death were: Son, Jeff Gardner (1999), husband Russ Mudry (2007), and granddaughter Monica Gardner (2025).  

Joanne grew up during WWII and graduated high school in West View, Pennsylvania, in 1952. Joanne married Ned Lorenzo Gardner after he was discharged from the US Army in 1953, and they moved to the Intermountain West.  She gave birth to her first son, Guy Gardner, in November 1954, in Sterling, Colorado, and her second son, Geoffrey (Jeff) Gardner, on November 1957, in Vernal, Utah. Joanne and Ned divorced in early 1958.  Joanne returned to Pittsburgh, PA, to raise her sons.

In 1959, Joanne married Russell Mudry, a former Pittsburgh Steeler. Russell previously served in the US Marine Corps as a Drill Instructor.

Russ and Joanne owned and operated “Russ’s Esso/Exxon/Car and Truck Service” in Bellevue, PA, from the 1960s to the 1990s.  Joanne did the financials for Russ’s service station and a number of other businesses over the years. She also did home sales and owned and ran a shipping business called “Packaging Plus”.

Joanne volunteered for dozens of civic organizations, churches, and government advisory panels in the Pittsburgh area. She also ran for the US House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Joanne was the Regional Public Affairs Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for the western Pennsylvania region for decades. She was also a children and youth church group leader for many years.  

Joanne also was an ordinance worker in the LDS Washington DC and Oakland CA temples for many years.

Joanne was a loving individual. She tried to help and serve others, even amidst the many challenges she faced in her own life. Joanne showed Christlike love to all she could. Many people have benefited from Joanne’s leadership, service, selflessness, intuition, and communication skills. Joanne was a unique light to the world in a day and age where darkness seems to prevail.

In retirement, Joanne and Russ moved to California, where Russ died a few months later. In a time when most people were slowing down and kicking back, Joanne worked in the LDS Oakland Temple, the LDS Family Search Center in Danville, CA, had callings in her church ward, and continued to help others in need. 

Joanne loved animals. In lieu of flowers, Joanne would appreciate you donating time or money to your local animal shelter.

Joanne’s viewing will be at 11:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at the LDS chapel at 5025 Crow Canyon Rd, San Ramon, California. A funeral service will follow at noon at the same location.

There will be a second viewing at 11:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan 17th, 2026, at the LDS chapel at 2771 Rochester Rd, Cranberry, Pennsylvania. A funeral service will follow at noon at the same location. Afterward, there will be a private family-only graveside service at a mausoleum in the Allegheny County Memorial Park, McCandless Township.