Eulogists
John F. Wendelken, Jr.
Kathleen M. Wendelken Smith

JoAnn made an indelible impression on us! Her vitality, warmth, hospitality and laughter are but a few of her qualities we will carry with us forever. JoAnn is luminous - we all loved to be around her! She brought out the best in each of us! Karen loved JoAnn so much she told people she was 1/2 Italian just to be like JoAnn. She concealed her freckles unsuccessfully disguising her Irish roots.

Grinning from ear to ear, Jo would tell us today "I look hot!" She does! She was and will always be to us! Always interested in everyone else, she asked each of us "So what's doin?" She took the time to ask the question and was truly interested in the answer.

Jo loved to be the center of attention, she loved the fanfare! She loved a party, she prepared her favorite Italian fare to share with all of us - sausage and peppers, meatballs, Shrimp and broccoli with linguine, whatever she made she doused in garlic and cooked to perfection. Only perfection would do for those she drenched in love!

Ten years ago our niece Roie was struck with a devastating life threatening illness. JoAnn appeared at the hospital with enough food to feed the Wendelken troops keeping watch and everyone else in the Northern Hemisphere. Brian, Roie's boyfriend at the time, now her husband, was distraught, inconsolable. Rumor has it that when the elevator doors opened with JoAnn and her delectable collections, Brian sprang to his feet to meet the garlic delights awaiting him.

JoAnn was talented and artistic! She dazzled us with her award winning photography, cosmetology and the ever famous pumpkins she painted with precision for her favorite holiday Halloween. Jo spent hours planning and creating Halloween costumes which she and Bob wore winning annual awards. Jo's talent was recognized last year, by Newsday who photographed Jo's Halloween creation of Bob and herself as a lion and tiger. She used her makeup to paint Bob's face and her own as the palette for her creations. Other costumes included the award winning California Raisins and by far the most creative was the commode and hmmm…its contents. Halloween was her favorite holiday. She loved haunted houses and hay rides. A year or so ago Jo, Bob, Bill and Trish went on a haunted hay ride during which a hand appeared from a false seat behind her nearly scaring the to wits out of her. Jo loved to straddle fright and thrill! A practical joker she and Trish's boss exchanged "gifts" not fit for the Junior League.

Many of you have noticed Trish wearing red these last few days as a tribute to Jo as red is her favorite color. Like red, Jo is colorful and shared her talents and time generously. Our nephew Brian's story depicts Jo's generosity of time and spirit. Brian received his confirmation last May, Bob was his sponsor. JoAnn was devastated that she was too sick to attend the long church service. She struggled to make a cameo appearance at a reception in Brian's honor. Her extraordinary unselfishness made Brian feel so special. Making people feel special was Jo's specialty! Whether coaxing the kids into the pool, or making a festive meal, Jo had the magic touch to make us laugh and love. Our family has a million tales of our mutual love affair with JoAnn - we adored her!

Jo and Bob were like show dancers. She loved to dance every kind of dance, the hustle, electric slide, swing, everything. So much did Jo love to dance that at our sister Anne Marie's wedding reception she took out her clipping from USA Today to teach everyone the Macarena!

Being fit was important to Jo. She worked out 4 days a week, she pressed 180 lbs and walked 45 minutes 4x per week on the treadmill. She got more exercise as she patrolled with the Police Auxiliary. She once found our brother's Gerry's sons at a local ball field and scooted them home. She often found her way to John's house in Syosset where she she'd "Check in" while on patrol.

JoAnn knew the importance of every kind of fitness: physical, spiritual and emotional. She was devout in her faith, especially devoted to Cardinal Newmann, now Saint John Newmann. She often talked about making a pilgrimage to his shrine in Philadelphia. Her illness didn't allow that trip. Jo often came to the rescue of her family and friends. Her friends and family suffered from numerous personal and health crises. JoAnn was the first to intervene offering to ease the pain and suffering of others. She readily opened her home to family members during times of distress. She assisted friends and family during health crises. She made a wig for a friend suffering from breast cancer and was delighted to help ease the burden of such devastation. We could have opened a lunch wagon with the food Jo prepared during dad's hospitalization. Jo was the primary care giver to her 93 year old mother. In fact, the fall which precipitated this horrendous illness occurred while she was taking her mother for a medical appointment.

Jo was straightforward and called a spade a spade. She told it the way it was. If it was inappropriate she said so, if funny, or helpful she said so too. Jo's laughter, delightful and sometimes raucous sense of humor enchanted us! Jo had the rare gift of being able to laugh at herself, laugh with others and cherish the divine in those she met.

Jo challenged us to think creatively, love ourselves as God created us and to live lovingly, graciously and humbly as Jesus taught us. Jo's life is a tribute to the way God intended us to live…fully and lovingly. Jo suffered and sacrificed her suffering for the intentions of others. Her faith was strong and sustained us, we know she's doing the Boogie Woogie in heaven as we speak!

Jo, you graced us by your life, we praise God for the treasure you are to our family! Bob, thank you for having the good sense to marry JoAnn. She raised the standards of grace, class and humor. Our lives are changed forever by the legacy she shared with us. We miss you Jo and you are forever in our hearts!

In I John 4, scripture tell us "God is love and he who lives in love lives in God and God in him." God's love radiated through Jo.