Joni Carol (Knapp) Green, 52, a longtime Peru resident, passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 22 after an extended illness.

Joni was born July 27, 1959 in Davenport, Ia. to Patricia and the late Daniel Knapp. She graduated from Belvidere (Ill.) High School in 1977 and attended Illinois State University, where she was on the Dean's List.

She married Doug Green on Jan. 19, 1980 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood, and together they had five children: Rachel, who lives in Kokomo; Jake, Nick, Jared and Jackie, all of Peru. She also leaves behind five grandchildren in Chase, Jackson, Devon, Kasey and Eli.

Joni was a dedicated wife and mother who stressed the importance of family and lived that example every day of her life. She tirelessly supported her husband and children in all they did and was especially a constant fixture around area baseball fields during the spring and summer.

A huge sports fan, Joni was dedicated to the Chicago Cubs and Purdue basketball. Baseball was a true love of her life as she enjoyed watching games and listening to them on the radio, as well as attending Cubs games at Wrigley Field. She was also a good athlete, playing softball and golfing with her friends and family at Indian Oaks Golf Course, where she and Doug played in a weekly couples league for several years. She also bowled for close to two decades with her husband in Peru bowling leagues.

Joni's Catholic faith was important to her, and was a true cornerstone to her life. She attended Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, where she also taught baptism preparation, headed the First Communion and Confirmation classes, and sponsored couples who were preparing for marriage.

Joni's life was one where her faith, selflessness, kindness and dedication to her family and friends will be her greatest legacy. She lived by those qualities, and her brave and dignified final battle against the illness that claimed her life will be an inspiration to those she is leaving behind.

Survivors include her husband, her children and grandchildren, as well as her mother, Patricia, of Clermont, Fla. Other survivors include sisters Vickie Armstrong of Frankton, Karen (Bill) Smith of Elwood and brothers, Mike of Aurora, Ill. and Tim of Atlanta, Ga., 17 nieces and nephews and 24 great-nieces and nephews, in laws Jack and Barbara Green, sisters in law Patti (Tom) Alexander and Donna (Randy) Van Erman and a brothers in law Jeff Green and Chris Green. Her father preceded her in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Joni Green will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the St. Charles Catholic Church, 58 West Fifth Street, Peru, IN with Rev. Francis I. Kilcline III officiating. Burial will be at 12:30 PM, Wednesday at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Elwood, IN. Family and Friends will gather from 3:00-5:00 and 6:00-9:00 PM, Tuesday at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru, IN. The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 PM and there will be a prayer service at 8:30 PM, Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made through the funeral home to St. Charles Catholic Church or to Relay For Life.