Joanna Lynne Kerley

September 18, 1987 - July 28, 2021

Joanna Lynne Kerley passed away suddenly at home, on Wednesday, July 28th 2021. Daughter to Debbie & Randy Jacobs (Pompano Beach, FL) and Eric Kerley (Akron, OH), she was born on September 18, 1987 in Lorain, OH, moving to Florida in 2012. In 2002 she started her health journey, mainly heart related, and had her first open heart surgery. She was a fighter though and didn’t let that stop her. In 2005 she graduated from Amherst Steele High School. Because of her health, she decided she wanted to help people and began studying social work at Youngstown State University through Lorain County Community College. In 2018 she completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Barry University and began to work at Broward Health Hospital in FL. In August 2020, she had a heart transplant and was on the road to a ‘normal’ life. God had a different plan for Joanna, taking her from us too soon. Joanna had a big heart, was witty, sarcastic, funny, and loved fiercely. She enjoyed music and singing at the top of her lungs in the car. She was obsessed with anything Disney and Marvel - going to Disney World multiple times a year. She loved Yala’s pizza, soft pretzels, bologna and dogs, especially Corgis. But most of all, she loved her family and friends. To say that she will be missed is an under statement, leaving behind her friends and family: Debbie and Randy Jacobs (Pompano Beach, FL), Eric Kerley (Akron, OH), Sarah Kerley (Sheffield Lake, OH), Madysen (Mady) Kerley (Uniontown, OH), Robert and Valerie Smaldino (Gianni, Grace, Mia), Samuel Smaldino (Renee, Robert). Being greeted with open arms by the loved ones that passed before her: Samuel Smaldino, Robert and Patricia Smaldino, Nelta Kerley, Donald Kerley. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 4th, from 11:00 am until the time of her funeral service at 1:00 pm, in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. To send an online condolence, please go to www.dovinreberjones.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to either of the following foundations Joanna was an advocate for: The Cleveland Clinic, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193, or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692, or to Make-A-Wish Foundation, https://wish.org, or to and Donate Life, 40 Sarasota Center Blvd. #107, Sarasota, FL 34240.