June 6, 1931 — May 26, 2014

JoAnn Pullen-Bruni, 82, of Niles, died at 11:32 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, at the Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, Michigan, following a brief illness.

She was born on June 6, 1931, in Frostburg, Maryland to C. Grant and Mabel V. (Kemp) Durst.

She graduated from high school in Frostburg, and then attended West Penn Hospital school of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she earned her nursing degree and worked as a surgical nurse.

She married Richard T. Pullen and had three children. They lived in Pittsburg and then later moved to New Jersey.

In 1973, JoAnn moved with her daughters to Niles and began a long career at the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Community Hospital). She continued her education, obtaining her BSN and her Certification in Oncology Nursing (ONC).

She also established the JoAnn Pullen Dance Workshop in downtown Niles.

As a nurse, she was known as both a proficient practitioner and a compassionate caregiver. In the ballet studio, her specialty was beginner dancers — especially youth — teaching them the fundamentals and giving them the inspiration for success.

JoAnn was a member of the board of the Berrien County Cancer Service, where she was employed for many years after she retired from Lakeland Hospital.

On June 12, 1982, she married John R. Bruni, M.D. and they resided in Niles for 30 years until his death on August 15, 2012. She was also preceded in death by her brother, John Charles Durst and by Dr. Bruni’s son, John F. Bruni, Ph.D.

Surviving family includes her children, Richard (Deb) Pullen of Tampa, Florida, Debra (Kirk) Pullen-Hansen of Niles, and Leslie (Larry) Pullen-Bryan of Indian Harbour Beach, Florida; grandchildren, John Pullen, Rachel Pullen, Jacob (Becca) Pullen, Hannah Pullen, Elizabeth Pullen, and Caleb Pullen; a niece and nephew; and Dr. Bruni’s children, Cheryl (Vince) Stewart of Algonac, Michigan, Matthew (Lisa) Bruni of Niles, Mark (Sherry) Bruni of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Robert Bruni of Granger, Indiana; and seven step-grandchildren.

Outside of work her passions were cooking with Dr. John, gardening and spoiling her beloved animals. JoAnn will be remembered for her strength, her compassion for others and her wonderful sense of humor. She made everyone feel special and will be missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of JoAnn’s life will take place from 1 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at the Bell Building in Niles, Michigan. Please use the parking lot at Fourth and Sycamore.

Contributions in memory of JoAnn may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com