JoAnn (Mayer) Glossner

It is so hard to believe we’re here, writing an obituary for our mom, JoAnn (Mayer) Glossner, who passed away on January 23, 2023. We’ve always hoped this day would never come, but now that it has, we are so amazed and proud to learn about all she has done in her 80 years. She was a one-of-a-kind friend and teacher, something that will come as a surprise to no one. 

Her parents S. Frederick Mayer [son of Moses Mayer and Selma (Wolf) Mayer] and Susan (Markle) Mayer [daughter of George Markle and Martha (Fisher) Markle] certainly did a great job raising a smart, caring, witty daughter with strong values and nurturing her passion for science and education. She earned her chemistry degree from Lock Haven University and pursued further education at Bowling Green State University. Along the way, she met her husband Eugene L. Glossner, before eventually settling in Duncannon, PA to raise a family. 

Hers was an inquisitive, insightful mind fed by reading, conversation, puzzle books, and games. Teaching, helping others, and collecting experiences were passions of hers, and her humor and creativity served her well in those pursuits. She taught chemistry for nearly three decades at Cedar Cliff High School, sporting sneakers, pull-on pants, and a polo shirt for at least 20 of those years, and sometimes took us to work. She made teaching look easy and fun; she was definitely in her element. (See what we did there?) In fact, she seemed always to be teaching; the world was her classroom. Her students not only learned the subject, but also learned how to treat one another respectfully, how to be curious and ask questions, and how to bend the rules when needed.

She taught us many life lessons and shared her philosophy on living well and deliberately. She lived life on her terms, in her way. Did she ride a bicycle with a holstered pistol to safeguard the neighborhood from a potentially dangerous animal? She may have. Did she bring extra folding chairs to sidelines all over the state so new friends would have a place to sit and cheer? Most certainly. Did she unknowingly drive around with an Elvis license plate that had been secretly affixed to her car under the cover of night? No one really knows.

Her door, like her heart, was always open. No one ever knocked; they just came right in. Gatherings just happened, and her house served as a stopping point for many who were passing through, people and pets alike. Cats, dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, a dear parrot, and a ferret were loved unconditionally over the years.

There was an ease about being with her and an awareness that you’d never guess where the conversation would lead, but you knew you’d laugh, that somehow she already knew what you were going to say, and that you’d feel better after having talked with her. We miss her immensely and will keep her close by celebrating her unique talents and sharing the lessons she taught us. 

She is survived by her son Tadman S. Glossner, DDS and his wife Suzanne (Kelly) Glossner of Boiling Springs, PA and their children Gavin and Grant; her daughter Joda L. Glossner of Andover, MA and her children Shaidan and Adler; her brother Fred Mayer and his wife Mary Mayer of Ann Arbor, Michigan; her nephew Fred Mayer, Jr. of Minneapolis, Minnesota and his children Ethan, Elliot, and Greta; and her nephew Jeremy Mayer of Mountain View, California and his son Alex. Her kidney of 18 years, GuS, is survived by its twin, which is in the care of Stephanie Thumma.

A celebration of life will be held at her home away from home, the Marysville Diner, 510 S State Road, Marysville, PA 17053 on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of memorial contributions, please care for a stray animal or take a friend, family member, or loved one out to dinner or a movie and share a story about her. She’d love that.

The family would like to thank Finkenbinder Family Funeral Homes for their compassionate care. www.finkenbinderfamily.com

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