JoAnn Shimizu Sweet was one of the original partners in The Waygoose when we opened in 1993. After a long & courageous battle with cancer she passed away Monday October 27, 2008. Her amazing & creative eye took a long, narrow men's clothing store of dark wood & beige paint and turned it into a warm, cozy & inviting store for us to showcase American handcrafts in Rockville. JoAnn was responsible for creating our signature gift wrap when she purchased our first 3 stamps (one of which, the spiral, we still use). The expression about "turning a sow's ear into a silk purse" is incredibly apt when talking about JoAnn, she could turn anything into something wonderful & often did. It was not unusual to leave the store when JoAnn was working, only to return and discover that everything had moved. We used to joke -- "Don't worry, JoAnn will be in, she'll fix it." After leaving The Waygoose, for the Marriott Corporation, she continued to help us with her wonderful window displays. Her influence is still strongly felt every time we wrap a package or arrange newly arrived merchandise. She will be sorely missed.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Casey House, a hospice in Rockville.
Donations can be mailed to Casey House, 6001 Muncaster Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20855 or dropped off at The Waygoose & we will send it in for you. If you would like to send a note to the family, we have a card at the store which we will be sending to her husband, Michael, & sons, Tom & Mark.
http://jo-ann-sweet.memory-of.com
Donations can be mailed to Casey House, 6001 Muncaster Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20855 or dropped off at The Waygoose & we will send it in for you. If you would like to send a note to the family, we have a card at the store which we will be sending to her husband, Michael, & sons, Tom & Mark.
http://jo-ann-sweet.memory-of.com