Joann Maxwell Mullen, age 72, of Erie, died Monday, February 6, 2012 at Saint Vincent Health Center.

She was born in Erie on April 12, 1939 a daughter of the late Brewster and Edna Sullivan Maxwell.

Joann graduated from Villa Maria High School in 1957. She taught in Diocesan Elementary Schools from 1957 until 1962. She became an Auto Underwriter at Erie Insurance from 1962 until 1967. Joann went back to school and graduated from Gannon College with a BS in Math, the State University of New York, Fredonia with a Masters in Math and Edinboro University with a Masters in Secondary Administration.

She was an Adjunct member of the Gannon Faculty teaching Math. She then became the first female lay-member of the Cathedral Preparatory School teaching staff where she taught Math from 1967 until the present. She also taught AP Calculus at Villa Maria High School for the last three years. She served as the first Principal at Cathedral Prep for 10 years and was elected to the 2011 Cathedral Prep Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Faculty Member.

She was a past President of the PA Council of Supervisors of Math, the Math Council of Western PA, the Math Council of North West Pa, a Saint Vincent Corporator and in 2011, she was voted to be on the Millcreek Government Study Commission.

Joann was a member of St. Jude Church and was an avid baker, quilter and reader.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Maxwell.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Mullen, a sister-in-law, Christine Maxwell, her step-children, Sallie Mullen and her spouse Chris Gardner, Thomas Mullen and his spouse Sue and Step-grandchildren Sarah, Lyon, Daniel and Elizabeth and many dear loving friends, who will miss her greatly.

Friends may call on Wednesday evening from 7-9 pm and also on Thursday from 2-5 pm and 7-9 pm in the Cathedral Prep H. David Bowes Auditorium, 225 West 9th St., Erie, Pa. 16501 and are invited to the Funeral Mass on Friday morning at St. Jude Church at 11 am. Send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com

Entombment will be in Holy Family Mausoleum in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Joann Mullen Scholarship Fund at Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy.