Jo Ann R Valenti née Zavada, 77, formerly of West Pittston, passed away Sunday, January 16, 2022, in New Jersey with family by her side. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Adelle Zavada of Exeter.
Jo Ann graduated high school from St Cyril Academy, Danville, PA. She graduated from College Misericordia, Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in French. She later went on to get Master’s Degrees in Reading and Library Sciences. Jo Ann worked as a school librarian for Seton Catholic High School, Pittston and then at the consolidated Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre. She also was a substitute teacher at many school districts.
Jo Ann was a former member of St John the Baptist Parish, Pittston. Jo Ann had a love for languages including French and German,
was an active member of the German Club, and enjoyed spreading her knowledge to everyone she would meet. She was dedicated to her family and was a loving mother, grandmother, and wife. She loved to read, shop, was an avid memorabilia collector, liked to travel, and spend time with her grandchildren and children.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Charles Valenti, her infant son Joseph Anthony; and sister Bernice Kenderes. Surviving are her sisters, Elaine Pavidus, Exeter; Marion Rubino and her husband, Joe, Wyoming; Martha Zavada, Exeter; Adelle Pennartz and her husband Sam, Tennessee, her children, Michael Valenti and his wife Claudia, PA; Carla Buan and her husband Arturo, NJ; Charles Valenti and his wife, Marikathryn, TX; Jo Anna Valenti, AZ; her grandchildren, Emily, Penelope, Lexi, Tori, Chaz, Gio, and Kalindi and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends and relatives Friday, January 21, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William St., Pittston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 9:30am in St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 William St., Pittston. Those attending are asked to go directly to the church. The family requests those attending the visitation and funeral mass wear a face mask. Interment, St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Schooley Avenue, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org - in Jo Ann’s name are welcome. For further information, directions to the funeral home or to express your condolences to Jo Ann’s family, please visit www.adoniziofuneralhome.com