Joann Galletta August 22, 1935 - December 12, 2023 Born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1935 to Bryce Lawrence and Ann Imelda Griffin, Joann was the oldest of three sisters. Mom died in Horseheads, NY after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She leaves behind her four children and their families along with her two sisters. Dad, (D. Joseph Galletta) pre-deceased her on December 3, 2020. Joe and Ginny Galletta and grandkids Jordan and Anthony Diane (Galletta) and Steve Hazlett and grandkids Justin, John, Lianne and Ben Mark and Myong Galletta and grandkids Jack, Sam and Elise Matt and Sheri Galletta and grandkids Enzo and Tezza Mom's two sisters, Gerry and Patti. Mom grew up in Bergenfield, NJ and went to school at the Academy of Holy Angels, founded in 1879 by the nuns of Notre Dame. Upon graduation from high school, Mom was given two options: start college or embark on a cross country trip with her childhood best friend Joyce (Comeau) Smith. Mom chose the cross country trip and traversed the country by car. Although we never heard the details of this trip, Mom did mention on many occasions getting badly sunburned in Arizona. When arriving back in New Jersey, Mom enrolled in Katherine Gibbs Secretarial school to learn to be a secretary. She would become an excellent typist, proofreader and learned how to write in shorthand (which looked like a foreign language when looking at her notes). Mom was a whiz on the typewriter and she typed the 'final versions' of many term papers for her kids while they were in school. She met Dad on a blind date at the Manhattan College Engineers Ball and they fell in love and married June 16, 1956. Mom worked professionally for the Superintendent of Wappingers Falls school system until Mom and Dad started our family. Mom would be a stay at home mom but was actively involved in both our church and local organizations including the librarian at St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction NY and East Fishkill Little League as Secretary. She was a member of the Little Switzerland's Women's Club and was an avid bridge player, playing monthly with the same women for over 20 years. Mom loved to bake (her mom's family were professional bakers in Pittsburgh, PA) and she passed this love onto her kids, especially Diane. Our favorite baked goodies were peach pie, apple pie, six egg cake, chocolate chip cookies and the delicious blueberry coffee cake. Mom was a great mom and loved being a mom but we think she enjoyed being a grandma even more. She was there right after the birth or adoption of her grandkids and was always willing to hold the baby, change diapers or baby-sit. Mom was present for important life events for our kids from Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations and many of the grandkids' birthdays. We really miss Mom but we are grateful her long suffering is over and she can be reunited with Dad and her loved ones in heaven. We keep the faith knowing we will someday also be reunited with them. Joe, Diane, Mark & Matt The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother. St. Therese of Lisieux