Jo Ann Scamardo

Jo Ann Scamardo, 89, of Little Elm, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on March 1, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born on December 10, 1936, to Oscar and Mamie Fryer. Jo Ann was an only child and grew up in Dallas, Texas. When she was six years old, she started private lessons and played classical piano for eight years. She graduated from Colonial High School in 1951. She was raised Baptist until her high school years when she was drawn to the Catholic Church while in her World History class where she discovered the Catholic faith. She begged Fr. Stack at Holy Trinity Catholic Church to give her private lessons to get through the classes quickly so she could be baptized and start her Catholic journey. She embraced the Catholic faith wholeheartedly from that moment on and devoted her life to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother until her final breath.

After high school, she attended Draughon’s Business College and went to work for the Federal Government. Eventually, she joined the Vincentian Club at Holy Trinity, a social club for young Catholics, where she met Anthony Scamardo. They married on May 7, 1960, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas. Jo Ann was set on having twelve children – two priests, two nuns and the rest to give her grandchildren. She wound up having five children who she was exceptionally proud of, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is not just remembered - she is still present, woven into the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Jo Ann was deeply committed to the Schoenstatt Movement first through her involvement in the Mothers’ League, then in the Pilgrim Mother apostolate of which she was a coordinator and responsible in the Dallas area for more than 20 years. She encouraged and stood by her husband, Anthony, when he manufactured hundreds of Pilgrim Shrines for Texas and beyond. As years went on, she desired a deeper commitment to Schoenstatt and followed the call to the Schoenstatt Mothers’ Federation, which she joined in 2008. Jo Ann was a committed member of this community as a member of the 4th course in the USA and enriched it with her joyful and noble being.

In addition, Jo Ann was an active member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. She faithfully attended and supported the weekly Wednesday Charismatic prayer group in Grapevine, Texas where she prayed fervently for others and encouraged many to deepen their relationship with the Holy Spirit.

She also served for many years as treasurer of the Magnificat Women Grapevine Chapter, offering her gifts of stewardship, integrity, and leadership to support and uplift Catholic women in their spiritual journeys. Her faithful service helped sustain and strengthen the ministry for years.

Jo Ann was welcomed into Heaven and preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Mamie Fryer, and husband, Anthony Scamardo. She is survived by her son Ricci Scamardo and wife Kelly Scamardo of Wylie, Texas; son Michael Scamardo of Trophy Club, Texas; son Mark Scamardo of Lucas, Texas; daughter Marisa Spalding and Mike Maxwell of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter Angela Halberstadt and husband Gary of Little, Elm, Texas; her beloved grandchildren Justin Scamardo and wife Samantha Scamardo; Jacob Spalding and wife Cheyenne, Sydney Schmidt and husband Matthew, Amanda Hirsch and husband Eric; Ben Spalding, Bailey White, Dani Angarita, Kinsey White, Christopher Scamardo, Nico Scamardo, Cory Halberstadt and wife Sarah, Brittani Halberstadt; her beloved great-grandchildren, Brazos Scamardo, Zeke Scamardo, Arthur Schmidt, Alfie Schmidt, Georgiana Schmidt, Wyatt Hirsch, Grayson Halberstadt, Wesley Halberstadt and Michael McCarty.

Visitation will be at Calvary Hill Cemetery, 3235 Lombardy Lane, Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral mass will be at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 10:00 with the rosary beginning at 9:20am. A reception will immediately follow the Funeral Mass at St. Mark’s Catholic Church with interment at Calvary Hill Cemetery at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Schoenstatt Movement at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas 75075 to the attention for “maintaining the wayside shrine”, in honor of Anthony & Jo Ann Scamardo, to continue the mission so dear to their hearts.