Joanna A. (Venditti) Simone's Obituary
Joanna (Venditti) Simone, 91, passed away peacefully at St. Camillus Health and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, January 28, 2025. Joanna was our family matriarch and a beautiful soul who touched the hearts of everyone she met. She was deeply rooted in her faith and a lifelong communicant of Our Lady of Pompei Church. Joanna grew up in Eastwood but spent the majority of her life residing in the beautiful Sedgwick neighborhood of Syracuse, which she loved so much. She spent countless hours cooking and baking her specialties (sour cream cake, Italian pizzelles) while family gathered in her kitchen “booth” chatting and spending time with her; a place of endless hours of conversation and memories. Joanna worked for over 30 years as the nighttime secretary for the Syracuse Chiefs Baseball Club, alongside her late husband, Anthony “Tex” Simone. Being the wife of a baseball executive allowed her many unique opportunities and travels throughout her life. Joanna loved going to the casino and traveling with her mother, sister and girlfriends to Atlantic City where stories would be recounted for years to come. She loved spending time on the beach and soaking in the sun, which led her to purchase a second home in Stuart, FL in her later years. Joanna was a voracious reader and loved going to the library to stock up on a new pile of books to read each week. She impressed us all with her extensive self-taught knowledge of history, with a particular fondness for World Wars. Joanna loved playing cards and always had a deck on hand for a quick game with others, or solitaire. Joanna spent her five, final independent years at Imperial Gardens where she enjoyed a warm, social community. She was known for sharing her delicious pizzelle cookies with all of her friends. She had a big love for the Dollar Tree, and would always share her finds with us, dropping off “treasures” on her way home. In her later years when she could no longer drive, her great-nieces and sister would drive her weekly to the various Dollar Tree locations, some which were “better than others.” Joanna was so funny and usually had no idea how much joy she brought to those around her. Ultimately, she was a care giver her whole life, caring for her mother until she passed in her home, and always being there for those that loved her. Doing for others was the ultimate joy in her life. She leaves behind a huge void in her loving family.
She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Tex Simone; her parents, Alice and Fred Venditti and her brother John.
Joanna is survived by her beloved sister, Jacqueline (Robert) Abbott, her niece, Noelle Abbott VanHee (Alexander Mix), her nephews, Ryan Abbott and David (Julie) Venditti. Her great-nieces and nephew, Alyce and Blair VanHee, Avery Abbott and Cy Abbott; her granddaughter, Mari Sinatra, her treasured great-grandson, Finnlay Sinatra Shoen; 2 children and 6 grandchildren.
Special thank you to the C-Unit at St. Camillus for the loving care Joanna received.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026 from 9:45-10:45 am at Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, 301 Ash St., Syracuse, NY, followed by a Funeral Mass in celebration of Joanna’s life at 11 am. Private entombment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church Building Fund, PO Box 11082 Syracuse, NY 13218.
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