Jo Ann with her Mom Margaret Piscitello

As I got to know JoAnn in the years since then, I saw that she was actually a force of nature. She had more energy than anyone I have ever met. And she used it to help people! She lavished attention on her daughter and son-in-law, and on visits to their house she would clean their already-clean house and cook (in spite of Trish’s protests) as if they paid her to do it. She just needed to do something with all of that energy and she used it to show her love for her family in practical ways.

We were fortunate enough to have JoAnn with us for several holidays, and it came to be a bit of a tradition to spend Easter with the Blakes and the Wendelkens at Trish’s house. These dear people would set a table so lovely and cook a feast so bountiful that my family and I felt like royalty. They hid eggs in the yard for my girls to find with little treats inside, gave them gifts and put a lot of time and effort into making it a memorable day, especially for our little ones. On a couple of holidays, the Blakes and Wendelkens came to our house – but they insisted on making and bringing so much food that by the time they were finished, they had cooked most of the meal. After dinner, I was practically elbowed out of my own kitchen as Trish and her mom took over and cleaned and washed until there was hardly a dish in sight.

JoAnn’s big, generous heart was never more evident to me than with our children. She loved them almost as if they were her own grandchildren, appreciating them and enjoying them like few in our blood family. We claimed JoAnn and Bob as adopted grandparents for them! They enjoyed our girls and doted on them, spoiled them a bit and photographed them ( ! ), as only grandparents do. And if that wasn't enough, they seemed to like my husband Joe and I too! The Wendelkens filled a gap in our lives and we counted them and Trish and Bill in our list of blessings in life for which we were so grateful.

When JoAnn left us, so did some of the love for us in this world. I am grateful to have known her. I am consoled in our loss in knowing that many of JoAnn’s best qualities live on in her daughter - her generosity of spirit, her kindness and thoughtfulness. I am thankful that I have Trish as my friend – she is her mother’s daughter.
          -Debbi Pinciotti

Memories Page 1    Memories page 2    Memories page 3    Memories page 4    Memories page 5    Memories page 6