H. Joanne Eberly Loose, 80 of Lititz and formerly of Gretna Springs, passed away on Thursday morning, February 3, 2011 at Luther Acres.

She was the wife of F. James Loose, with whom she celebrated 56 years of marriage this past July 17 ^th . Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of the late Jacob and Hazel Enck Eberly.

Joanne was a 1948 graduate of Ephrata High School and a 1951 graduate of the Jefferson University Hospital School of Nursing. A registered nurse, she had worked as an operating room nurse at the Ephrata Hospital for 4 years, at Lancaster General Hospital for 16 years, and also at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia from 1951 to 1954. Joanne was also, with her husband, Jim, involved with their family restaurants, the former Golden Dipper in Neffsville and the former Family Kitchen in Ephrata.

She wanted  to be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States.

In addition to her husband, Joanne is survived by her 4 sons: James E. Loose of Ephrata, John A. married to Karen Loose, David C. married to Melissa Loose, and Edward "Ted" D. married to Pam Loose, all of Lititz; her 6 grandchildren Eric, Julia, Kelly, Jessica, Kristen, and Jacob; her sister, Marilyn married to William Miller of Bloomsburg, and her brother, Russell married to Betty Rupp of Columbia, MD. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Burkholder.

Friends will be received on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 from 6-7PM at the Charles F. Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA, with the Memorial Service to follow at 7PM, the Rev. Glen Beard officiating. Private interment in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Joanne's memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Dr., Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 or to LutherCare, 600 East Main St., Lititz, PA 17543. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory, 560-5100