Joann Laitinen Hall, Class of 1960

Hall, Joann Carol Laitinen, 76, of St. Petersburg, died in memory care Nov. 10, 2018, at Arden Courts of Seminole. Originally from Detroit, Mich., Joann moved to New York City to be on staff at the American Field Service (AFS), then served as Executive Assistant to national directors of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. She was preceded in death by her parents, Uno and Elsie Laitinen, and her sister, Barbara. Survivors include her husband, David R. Hall of St. Petersburg; her brother-in-law, James Ahnemiller of Palm Harbor, and his daughter Janice Finney and his sons Jason and Craig Ahnemiller and their respective families. Joann was active in her United Methodist churches and a lifelong volunteer with international families. She was an avid knitter, gardener, book club member, traveler, and caregiver. Joann loved her Finnish-American heritage and was a member of the Detroit Finnish Cooperative Summer Camp Association in Wixom, Mich., founded in 1925 by her grandparents’ generation. Contributions in her memory may be made to that association at www.finncamp.org  or a local chapter of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019, at First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, FL., at 11:00 a.m.