Elizabeth Shiber

Elizabeth Joan Shiber, 90, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away on September 24, 2023, at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise, AZ.

Joan, who was born in Akron, Ohio, lived in East Brunswick, New Jersey, for most of her life. She moved to Sun City, Arizona, after the death of her husband, Whitey, in 2006. Joan worked 25 years in retail, most notably at Sears, where she managed the fabrics and notions department, then later moved to manage the accounting department. She retired from Xerox after an 18-plus-year career in administration. Joan said the best boss she ever worked with was at Xerox; his name is Rich Barton.

Joan was an avid needlewoman. She could knit, crochet, sew, smock, cross stitch and embroider, but her passion was quilting. While living in New Jersey, she and her boon companions traveled the country, attending quilt shows large and small, taking classes and learning new techniques. Joan was a member of more than one quilt guild in the state and made many, many precious life-long friends. Along the way, Joan collected fabric, lots and lots of fabric. After she moved to Arizona, Joan met another precious group of quilting friends; together, the women explored local quilt shops, attended classes and organized their own quilting get-togethers. Joan gifted many people items made from her stash of fabrics.

Joan was an active member of Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Peoria, Arizona, as well as was a long-time active member of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in New Jersey. As a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Joan held many leadership roles in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at both local and state levels in New Jersey. She was well versed in church polity and graciously shared her knowledge at her new church home in Arizona.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Charles (“Whitey”) Shiber; as well as two daughters, Linda (Neil) Cavalier and Cindy (Michael) Biddle.

She is survived by two daughters, Darlene (Michael) Sneden and Lori (Denis) Scanlon; as well as six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Joan is also survived by her beloved brother, Chester (Shirley) Hampton and a host of nephews and nieces and their families with whom she made great memories.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Service held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 beginning at 11 a.m. at Life in Christ Lutheran Church, 14802 N. 75^th Ave., Peoria, AZ 85381. Joan’s final resting place will be beside Whitey in the Dunmyer Cemetery in Salix, PA.

In lieu of flowers, Joan requested donations be made to Life in Christ Lutheran Church’s “Debt Retirement Fund.”