Joan Parno

Obituary

Joan Grace Parno (Sullivan), 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and she is the daughter of Dennis and Helen (Snowling) Sullivan. She grew up in Morrisville, PA, with her late guardian, Margaret M. Purdy. She married the love of her life Sebastian V. Parno, and they resided in Hamilton Township. They had three daughters, Denise, Michele, and Linda.

Joan worked for 40 years as an Employee Relations Specialist, Personnel Department, at the Naval Air Propulsion Test Center, Ewing, NJ, and she retired on August 3, 1996.

In her younger years, she enjoyed weekly bowling with her colleagues on a work league. In her retirement years, she was an avid Phillies fan, and she was happy watching the Phillies play while smoking her cigarettes and having an Old Milwaukee beer. When she could not stream the Phillies, Joan found girls’ college softball fun to watch, especially Oklahoma vs. Clemson. Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune were her favorite game shows, and she loved streaming old Jeopardy episodes with Alex Trebek.

Joan was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who took pleasure in watching the children grow up. She had a special bond with her “adopted” daughter, Jackie, and Jackie’s children, Georgie and Adam, who spent many Sunday dinners together. Her favorite days were called TLC days when her hairdresser of 30-plus years, Albert Emilio, would do her hair. She called Albert her BFFL, Best Friend For Life.

Joan is predeceased by her loving husband, Sebastian V. Parno; her sweet daughter, Denise Parno; loving brother, Dennis Sullivan; and caring sister, Peggy Endrzejewski.

Joan is survived by her devoted daughters Michele Sherry (William) from Yardley, PA and Linda Parno of Trenton, NJ; cherished granddaughters Carissa Zeldin (Vince) of Yardley, PA, Rachel Zeldin (Jonathan) of Santa Rosa, CA, and Victoria McGee (Jose) of Ewing, NJ; loving grandson Sean Parno (Christiana) of Philadelphia, PA; and precious great grandsons, Judah Kurss Zeldin and Liam McGee Nieves.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 9 to 10:30 at Knotts Colonial Funeral Home, 2946 South Broad Street, Hamilton, NJ. Burial will be private with family.