Joanne O’Connell, 90

Joanne O’Connell passed away peacefully on October 29, 2023 at the age of 90. She was born in Pottsville, PA to Leo and Loretta Rabuck and graduated from Pottsville Catholic High School in 1951. She married Edward J. O’Connell in 1960 and after residing in Ardmore, PA and Allentown, PA, they settled in Pittsburgh, PA. While raising her five children, Joanne returned to school, and, as a straight-A student, completed her nursing degree in 1982 and began her second career serving on the psychiatric ward at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh. She later earned a Bachelor’s degree from Geneva College. For the last twenty years she has resided in Lititz, PA.

Joanne is survived by her husband of 63 years and her children Edward, Daniel (Anne), Anne Marie (Ron) Cress, and Kathy (Tom) DeMarco. She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Tommy, to whom she was deeply devoted. Their heavenly reunion will surely be beautiful. She is also survived by her grandchildren Mary Kate and John O’Connell; Maureen (Matt) Schneider, Cameron (Hannah) and Shane (Meghan) Cress; and Thomas, Emilia, and Claire DeMarco, five great-grandchildren, and her sister, Marie. Her siblings Peggy, Leo and Loretta have preceded her in death. Joanne lived all her life as a shining example of unwavering Christian faith and love, leaving a legacy of devotion to her family and her Lord.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. and a service at 2:00 p.m. at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children, 135 Clelian Heights Lane, Greensburg, PA 15601.