Hello, my name is Sandy, I would like to thank all of you for being here today. I am told I have 5 minutes to talk about one of the most amazing people in our lives , I would need much longer so I will try my best Joanne was a loving wife who told me daily how lucky & blessed she was to have the best husband in the world. They met at Joanne’s favorite place the Palace. Sunday-was so shy and timid, he never swore, understood our slang and lingo but within a couple of years with Joanne and our circle of friends those swear words and Sunday’s version of American lingo was flying out of his mouth like crazy. A Few years later, they married; their wedding day was full of magic, they were so happy they were glowing that day and that continued even more for the past 25 years. Sunday would always tell me thank God for Joanne, she gives me the best advice, yet we all know it was really just her insisting he do it her way. Joanne taught Sunday how to love and live life just as she always did! Enjoying time spent with her wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins and enjoying Italian feasts created by them.(because as we all know Joanne really didn’t love to cook). Joanne was a smart business woman, at a very young age she and her cousin Joseph started their business at their aunt’s weekly family card games selling their family’s own refreshments and snacks back to them for a $1.00 each racking up their bank accounts on a weekly basis. She looked forward to her morning and evening conversations daily with her Aunt Dolores and visiting with her, they especially loved to watch the Kentucky Derby, the Breeder’s Cup and the Preakness and placing their bets. She enjoyed going to Vikki and Joseph’s big parties with Bethany, Anthony and all of Vikki’s family and friends. Joanne treasured her childhood memories of her Mom, Dad and Diane whom she missed terribly. She spoke so fondly of her childhood memories and so loved to reminisce. She loved talking to her niece Jessica Faith Kamara about Sunday. She loved spending time with her niece Deanna Roque. She also looked forward to Cindy and her Godchild Amber coming to visit and Joanne would do her best social calendar to fit everything in that timeframe. Joanne decided they should became fur parents, they got a beagle named Buster. She fell deeply in love and was so happy to be a dog Mommy and yes he was so spoiled. Professional pictures, and Suites at the Pet Hotel. They enjoyed so many years with him and treated him like a King. They were heartbroken to loose him. Joanne decided they needed to get another beagle Jack days before the Covid shutdown. She was so happy to be a dog mommy again and treated him like a baby. She decided during Covid she would become the director of TIK TOK videos of her and Jack singing and howling and that was her get rich quick scheme. Joanne loved to cruise and travel and introduced Sunday to it and they loved it. Every year Joanne would plan another cruise so that Sunday could buy her a new shiny piece of blingy jewelry. She introduced the traditions of holidays- which Sunday really didn’t celebrate. This past Christmas Sunday decided to go and buy her a new tree, since the one she had was only 18” tall; He brought home the biggest gorgeous scented tree. Immediately she called me cursing and yelling about the tree, how it smelled and was too big, she said it belonged in the enchanted village at Jordan’s furniture. A week later, being the true Gemini she was, she called us to tell us how in love she was with the tree and was never taking it down. She was the group leader always planning holiday parties, get togethers or girls weekends at Foxwoods. She was always thinking of others and doing whatever she could to help all of us even God’s creatures; One day while out with Stephen she pulled up to McDonalds ordered a large fry, pulled over, rolled down the window and threw them out so the birds could have lunch. She was funny and loved to laugh, it was the loudest and it was contagious, people turned heads but she didn’t care, she was having fun. She had a beautiful smile that melted your heart and made you happy! She loved all the trashy magazines about the stars and Reality TV and she somehow convinced Sunday to love it as well; they would sit and laugh at all of the shows. She even convinced Sunday to go to Foxwoods and wait for 5 hours in line to meet one of the housewives. Joanne’s best birthday’s was a meet and greet with Nellie at Foxwoods. Joanne’s heart and generosity was beyond imaginable; if she was on the phone with you and you happen to say you needed something, it would be at your door via Amazon the next day. She was one of Amazon’s biggest customers, every day she would have at least 4 – 6 packages. While in the hospital Joanne placed an order here and there but not nearly as much as she had been ordering and I am positive that is the reason that the Amazon workers got laid off. I met Joanne at my interview at John Solomon, I had the interview jitters but as soon as I entered the office she peeked around the corner from her desk and gave me the biggest smile that took my jitters away. She invited me out that weekend and brought me into her wonderful circle of friends. Shortly after meeting we suffered many losses together that created our strong bond. Joanne encouraged me to go on a cruise and we later cruised together 9 times. She taught me to gamble at Foxwoods (which hasn’t gone well), We traveled cross country together and spent 21 days, with so many fun memories and talked about renting an RV for Sunday and Steve to drive cross country to figure out where we would live for our golden years-as long as it didn’t have any spiders! Over the years, We spent almost every holiday, weekend and vacations together. Joanne taught me so many things, how to start a Facebook account which I said I would never but I am so appreciative to have those memories on now. We shared so much laughter and shared so many tears. We were not sisters by blood but we knew from the start God put us together to be sisters by heart. During Covid Joanne convinced us to get our dog that has made us so happy and who we love but now we can never leave the house or go on vacation again. She was his auntie Godmama and she loved him so much and he loved her. It’s almost like he knew she was the reason we got him. We would talk 2 -3 times a day and never run out of things to say. She got me through my cancers and I got her through her tough times. Joanne was my person, my soul sister and it was one of the best parts of my life. I don’t know what the past 35 years would have been like without her. I am so grateful that She encouraged me to live life like she did for all of us! I miss her so already, a part of my heart is forever broken and I don’t know how I am going to get through each day without phone calls or our weekends, holidays and vacations without my partner and soul sister. I will NEVER FORGET YOU AND WE WILL MEET SOME DAY. I know there aren’t any right words that will take away our pain today but I am truly convinced that God has taken away all of Joanne’s pain and suffering she had been in for a quite a while and she just couldn’t bear it any more. I know that she is planning parties with her family that she missed so much and playing with Buster , she is and dancing to the music rocking out heaven and will continue to shine on us nightly with her love and kindness as she continues to watch over all of us as she had her entire life. I will ask one thing of you today, please stay in touch with Sunday who provided the most compassionate care making sure she was taken care of in every imaginable loving and caring way and pray for Joanne’s family. Joanne, I PROMISE TO KEEP OUR PROMISES, my heart is broken and will always will be, I am missing you terribly and I will hold onto all of our wonderful memories forever. I LOVE you Dearly forever!
Let the memory of Joanne be with us forever.
In Loving Memory of Joanne
Joanne was a woman who loved deeply, laughed loudly, and lived life with sparkle, intention, and generosity. She was a devoted wife, cherished friend, beloved aunt, proud dog mom, and the heart of every room she entered.
She shared a beautiful 25-year marriage with her husband, Sunday — a love story that began at her favorite place, The Palace. Their relationship was filled with humor, devotion, and the kind of partnership that only grows stronger with time. Joanne often said how lucky and blessed she was to have the best husband in the world. In truth, they were each other’s greatest gift — she teaching him how to embrace life fully, and he loving her with unwavering dedication and care.
From a young age, Joanne’s entrepreneurial spirit was already shining. That same smart, determined, and creative spirit stayed with her throughout her life.
Family meant everything to Joanne. She treasured her childhood memories of her parents and Diane, whom she missed deeply. She adored her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and godchildren. She loved gatherings filled with Italian feasts (even if cooking wasn’t her favorite hobby), big parties, and every opportunity to fit more people she loved into her social calendar.
Joanne had a gift for turning ordinary moments into celebrations. She was the planner of holidays, girls’ weekends, Foxwoods trips, and cruises. She embraced traditions, and brought magic to every season.
Her heart extended to “God’s creatures” as well. She was a proud and devoted dog mom to her beloved beagles, Buster and Jack.
Joanne’s laughter was unforgettable — loud, contagious, and unapologetically joyful. She loved reality TV, celebrity gossip, and could convince anyone — including Sunday — to stand in line for hours just to meet a favorite star.
Her generosity knew no bounds. She gave freely, thoughtfully, and without hesitation. She was always thinking of others.
Joanne formed lifelong friendships, rooted in shared joy, shared grief, shared travel, and countless daily phone calls. Joanne was the kind of friend who showed up — through cancer battles, losses, laughter, tears, and everything in between.
She was strong. She was resilient. She was compassionate. She loved with her whole heart.
Joanne’s legacy is one of joy, loyalty, generosity, laughter, and fierce love. She taught us to live fully, to celebrate often, to call our people daily, and to never pass up a cruise, a party, or a reason to sparkle.
She will be forever loved, forever missed, and forever part of the stories we tell and the lives we live.
Resting place · Saint Michael Cemetery, Boston, MA
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