Joanne Louise Rossini

Mrs. Joanne Rossini, age 98, passed away, on April 3, 2022, at her beautiful Saint Augustine home in Rancho Mirage, California. Her beloved and devoted Son & Son-in-law, David Rossini and Rick Cooper, and her much loved Grandson, Spencer Rossini, were by her side.

Joanne was born in Utica, N.Y. on August 25,1923 , to the late Michele and Luisa DiRusso, and graduated from T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1942.

During WWII, at the very young age of nineteen, she supervised a large secretarial staff at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y. Once the war ended, Joanne became the personal assistant to the Commissioner of Public Safety in Utica.

Joanne married Joseph Rossini, at St. Anthony of Padua Church on November 22, 1945, shortly after he returned from WWII, where he served in the Seventh Armored Division under General Patton.

They met five years earlier on the steps of St. Anthony of Padua church when she was sweet sixteen and he was twenty-one, and spent 61 years in a very devoted and loving marriage. Instead of pursuing a promising career, Joanne decided to become a full time stay at home Mom to raise their three sons, Albert, David & Joseph Jr. She was the embodiment of unconditional love towards her boys - a true Lioness with her cubs! Joanne and Joe showered their sons with love and encouragement throughout their lives.

Joanne and Joe were very active in their parish where she served as a President of the Mothers' Club and worked tirelessly with other devoted parishioners to help in the building of St. Anthony of Padua grammar school , where their three sons attended.

In 1970, Joanne & Joe moved to Overland Park KS with their son, Joe Jr. They lived there until 1997 when they moved to Shorewalk Villas in Bradenton, Florida. The place was like a paradise for them. They made such truly amazing friendships with people from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain ranging in age from those in their 20's to those in their 80's. She was beloved by so many and was affectionately known as " Our Queen."

Upon her husband's death in 2007, Joanne continued to live in Florida and part of the year ,with David and Rick, in a separate downstairs condo in their building in San Francisco. She lived full time with them since 2014 with frequent visits to her Florida home.

David and Rick had wanted to move to the Palm Springs area for the past six years, and finally convinced Joanne, with much trepidation on her part, to relocate with them. Joanne cried tears of joy upon arriving at our new home in Rancho Mirage, and loved spending her final days, with David and Rick, in such an idyllic setting.

Joanne is survived by her loving children, Albert Rossini and his wife, Brenda Szeja Rossini of Winnetka, Illinois, David Rossini and his husband, Rick Cooper of Rancho Mirage, California, and Joseph Rossini Jr. and his wife, Brenda Faye Rossini of Bucyrus, Kansas. She also leaves behind her much loved grandson, Spencer Rossini of Portland, Oregon.

Joanne also leaves behind many cherished and beloved nieces and nephews, and cousins in the U.S. Australia and Italy. Her life was filled with many wonderful friends from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain, who filled her days with much love and laughter.

David Rossini and Rick Cooper want to express their deepest gratitude to the five amazing women who were Caregivers to Joanne during the final months of her life. Edlin Canete, Valeria Alvarez, Maria Tess Fox, Kenya Alvarez & Maryvic Bayaras treated Joanne with so much tenderness, compassion and love which helped so much during her final several months.

Additionally, the family wishes to thank Care First Hospice Services, which greatly helped ease Joanne's passing during the final days of her life.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Catholic Prayer service will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cathedral City, California. The 4:00 PM service (Pacific Standard Time) will be webcast at https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MzE3MjIwNw== the password for the webcast is Rossini. A reception will follow at David Rossini and Rick Cooper's residence concluding the services.

In November, 2022 ( date to be determined at a later date ) David Rossini and his husband, Rick Cooper, will bring Joanne's Urn to Bradenton Florida where a Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church. Interment will be in the family vault at Skyway Memorial Gardens in Palmetto, Florida, where she will again join her beloved husband, Joseph Rossini. A Celebration of Life , with her many friends, will follow.