Joan Eberle, 52, wife of Karl Eberle, owners of Karl’s Place Cafe on Baldwin Road, died on Dec. 15 after she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer this past January.
Joan had Glioblastoma Multiforme, and began receiving radiation treatments and chemotherapy shortly after surgery to remove a tumor in January.
Neighbors helped the family install a wheelchair ramp on their home after Joan returned home from the hospital, paralyzed on her left side.
Speaking to The Lake Orion Review from her home in March, Joan said her sense of humor and her family were getting her through the medical crisis, as well as the support of the community.
‘All we did was call…they flew home on the next flight,? she said of daughters Angela and Alicia, who were both away at college at the time of her diagnosis.
‘Where ever we need them, they have been,? Joan said. ‘And Karl has been with me almost 24 hours a day.?
Joan’s daughters said their mother found a new sense of humor throughout her illness.
‘She’s never been like this before,? Angela said of her mom’s jokes. ‘Before, she was shy.?
Joan said Karl, whom she was married to for over 30 years, cooked for her during her illness. She missed her job at the family’s cafe and as a real estate appraiser.
The Eberles, who live in Lake Orion, have owned Karl’s Place Cafe in Gingellville for over 20 years, and reopened the restaurant in 2004 after an expansion.
To show support for her mom, Alicia shaved her head after Joan got hers shaved for surgery.
Joan said she encouraged Alicia to start dying her hair bright colors, including green for St. Patrick’s Day.
‘I was all for it,? she said.
Joan was also grateful for the support of the community; as well as the Eberles? church, Christ the Redeemer; as the family struggled to keep up with mounting medical bills.
‘There’s a lot of love pouring out of this community,? she said.
Besides her husband and daughters, Joan is survived by her brothers and sisters, David, Edward, Mark, Chris, Joe, Jackie Roscoe and Julie Gaeckle.
She was the sister-in-law of Joann Burns, Rose, George and Suzanne Eberle. She was daughter of Frances and the late Edward Roscoe and the sister of the late Jean Roscoe.
She was a certified real estate appraiser and a retired critical care registered nurse.
Arrangements were entrusted to Modetz Funeral Home on Silverbell Road in Lake Orion..
The funeral mass took place Dec. 19 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Lake Orion.
There is an online guestbook at www.modetzfuneralhomes.com.
Suggested memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.