Joan Barbara (Cornelius) Fosket – a loving mother, wife, sister and friend – passed away peacefully, with family at her side on October 12, 2020. Joan, age 88, was born February 4, 1932, to William and Beulah Cornelius in Lansing, Michigan. She was raised primarily in Charlotte and graduated from Charlotte High School in 1950, where she ran around with her twin sister, Janet, and their friends, Annie and Poohie, known as the HAGs (Haven’t Any Glamor). Shortly after graduating from high school, she married the love of her life, Vernon, on January 20, 1951. Married for 69 years, they resided in Potterville where they raised their five children, and together ran their business, Vern Fosket Carpet Company.
Joan is remembered as a kind, tender-hearted woman with many memorable attributes. Considered the matriarch of her family she not only helped her husband run their business, but was an incredible homemaker. She gardened, canned vegetables and fruits and was known for her incredible home cooked meals. Joan also had a love of sweets; there was not a time that she would pass up on a sweet treat to enjoy, especially a hot fudge sundae from McDonald’s (with extra fudge, of course). Her children remember that she was a wonderful mother and recall that she even made most of their own clothes that they had growing up, as well as her uncanny sense of humor and her love to play April Fool’s pranks on her children each year.
Along with her sense of humor Joan instilled a sense of love and respect in her children to carry with them in their life. Her family always came first and she made sure they knew that growing up. She taught them to have kind hearts and especially taught them a tender side to animals, as Joan was an avid animal lover. She loved their ponies, Airedale terriers – especially her Maude – and cats, and would even bring in strays to live, including a chipmunk named Charlie.
Joan’s love and memory will be carried on in her surviving five children: her two sons, Dennis (Mary Angela) Fosket, and David (Danna) Fosket; along with her three daughters, Victoria Fosket, Laurel (Mark) Williamson, and Sharon (Dino Kalush) Kozachik. She is also survived by many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Fosket, and her siblings, Bill Cornelius, Mary Ackley, Jack Cornelius and her twin sister, Janet Forte.
In keeping with her wishes, Joan will be cremated and a private graveside ceremony for immediate family will take place at a later date at Benton Township Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in Joan’s honor to Sensations Memory Care, 511 E. Shepherd Street, Charlotte, MI 48813. To view Joan’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home, Charlotte.