Joan Cosgrove

MADISON- Joan "Jo" Faust Cosgrove passed away on June 11th, 2016. She was born on January 10th, 1932.

She was the hostess with the mostest, loved to entertain and garden. She left the party early last weekend to be with the true love of her life, Denny Cosgrove, her husband of 50 years. Jo had a lifetime of Madison friends. The "widows group", the Orchard Ridge gang, the "Coventry friends" and many, many more. Jo was always the first to greet a new neighbor with a plate of cookies and warm welcome.

Born in Oshkosh, Wi, Jo grew up with two sisters, Patricia Faust (Williamsburg, VA) and Marilyn Burr (Mesa, AZ). She attended Augustana Nursing School in Chicago, earning her degree as an RN. Early in her career, a handsome medical sales rep came into the hospital, Denny of course, and the rest was history. They married in 1954, settled in a "new" suburb called Orchard Ridge, where they lived for many years and raised a family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Denny Cosgrove. He was truly the love of her life. She is survived by her two sisters, Patricia Faust of Williamsburg, VA and Marilyn Burr of Mesa, AZ; daughters, Chris Stoneberg, Orinda, CA, Patricia Seder (Mark) Portland, OR, Bridget Arvold (Kevin) Waunakee, WI and Peggy Van Deraa (Tim) of Kannapolis, NC and her grandchildren, Dan Stoneberg, Los Angeles, CA, Kelly Stoneberg, San Francisco, CA, Mackenzie Seder, Portland, OR, Drew Arvold, Madison, WI, Charlie Arvold, Waunakee, WI and Molly Arvold, Madison, WI.
She will be very missed by so many. Rest in peace Mom.
God's Garden
God looked around his garden
And found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,
He knew that you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone...
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

Author: Melissa Shreve

A celebration of Jo's life will be held on a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Johns Hopkins Hospital attn. Heather Culp at 550 N Broadway, Suite 731, Baltimore, Maryland 21205. In the memo line, please write "ALS Research."


Cress Funeral Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434