She was born in Newark, NJ and as the last of 4 children, Joann was the quintessential youngest child: brave, rule-bending, opinionated, unstoppable and sharp as a tack. After graduating Essex County Vocational and Technical High School, Joann held several administrative and management positions at Bell Telephone. During the 1967 Newark Riots, she was asked to cover telephone operator shifts where she would tell soldiers and college students calling home "these are all free, just flash the button to let me know when you're done".
The day Joann met her future husband of 56 years, he called her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and, on their first date, very confidently declared they would be married one day. Her response? "You are crazy, I'm just a baby." Although Joann was, in fact, the baby of her family, she was always mature beyond her years. Her younger cousins and nieces thought she was so cool - always fashionable, sophisticated, trend-setting and bold. She was the apple of her father's eye and her siblings all agreed "she got away with murder".
Joann spent the remainder of her career employed by the State of New Jersey, first as Secretary to the Director of Motor Vehicles in Trenton then, after taking a break to be a stay at home mother, a Secretary at Central Five School in her hometown of Union. In all scenarios, Joann imparted her own unique, one-of-a-kind wisdom and "tell it like it is" style. She always said what everyone else was thinking and dished out the best anecdotes and life advice to all who knew her.
Her happiest times were spent with family both near and far (especially her 4 grandchildren), girls trips with "The Big 6", reminiscing with friends about their wonderful years raising children in Union, making new memories with neighbors in the Greenbriar community, and playing an active role in her local Catholic Parish - most recently, St. Luke's.
She is predeceased by her parents Vito and Rose (nee Casale) DeMaio and eldest brother Gerard "Ralph" DeMaio and survived by her adoring husband Peter, children Peter Gerard and Carissa (McGeown - husband John), grandchildren Mason Gerard, Hudson Rose, Colin John (who affectionally referred to her as "Nana Cookie") and Brennan William, siblings Carmine DeMaio and Susanna (Rodolfo) Galluccio, and countless nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and so many more whom she loved deeply.
Friends and family are invited to bring their favorite memories and stories to celebrate Joann's incredible life on Thursday, January 18, 2004 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at D'Elia Funeral Home, 1300 Vermont Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701. A funeral mass will follow Friday, January 19, 2024 at 10:30am at St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church located at 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08755. Joann will be laid to rest at St. Joseph's Cemetery immediately following.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17