December 16, 1940 – March 25, 2024
Rosendale – JoAnn O’Connor, 83, of Rosendale, NY passed away at her residence on Monday, March 25, 2024.
JoAnn O’Connor was born on December 16, 1940, to the late Joseph and Anna Bianco in Kingston, New York. She graduated high school from St. Ursula’s Academy and went on to study Elementary Education at SUNY New Paltz.
After graduating from SUNY New Paltz she got a job teaching in West Hurley, New York. She soon met her husband Edward and took time off from teaching to start a family. JoAnn and Ed settled down on JoAnn’s cherished family estate in Rosendale, Villa Bianco.
JoAnn was a loving and devoted mother and daughter, balancing her time between the family business and her children. She was a hard worker, and was always there for her family, whether it was a game, recital, playing in the yard, or serving Chicken Parmigiana.
After taking time off to raise her family, JoAnn returned to teaching and started working at Marbletown Elementary School, where she continued to teach under her retirement in 2004. JoAnn was a devoted educator, who loved to help children learn how to read and made lasting connections with many of her students. Upon her retirement JoAnn dedicated her time to her grandchildren. She would spend as much time as she could with them, spending weeks with her out-of-town grandchildren on the Villa, and watching her local grandchildren during the school year. As her health declined, she was not able to spend as much time with them, but she was always thinking of them. Her grandchildren cherished their time with Gma.
JoAnn is survived by her husband Edward O’Connor, their three children Christine Riley (Jim) of Villanova, Pennsylvania, Joseph O’Connor (Olana) of New Paltz, New York, Annie Saunders (Kevin) of New Paltz, New York and her seven grandchildren that she loved with her whole heart Kevin, Casey, Joe, Brady, Molly, Sophia, and Emma. She is also
survived by her brother Joseph Bianco and his wife Eve of Rosendale.
Visitation will be held at George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Route 32, Rosendale, New York on Friday March 29 from 4 to 7 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held at Wiltwyck Country
Club, 404 Steward Lane, Kingston, New York on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 PM. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to People’s Place of Ulster County, 17 St. James Street, Kingston, NY 12401.
