Mrs. Joanne Marie Tomazic

Joanne Marie Tomazic, 76, of Bracey Virginia, formerly of Forest City, Pennsylvania, died of pancreatic cancer on Thursday May 11, 2023 at home with her husband of 53 years, James Tomazic, at her side. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Doris (Perkins) Tortolini. Joanne was a 1966 graduate of the Beverly High School, Beverly, MA and a 1969 graduate of the Catherine Laboure School of Nursing, Dorchester, MA. Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a Registered Nurse at Northeastern Community Health Care, Jermyn, PA. She later held various roles at Lackawanna College, Scranton, PA, Friendship House, Scranton, PA and Stage Stores, Inc., South Hill, VA. While attending nursing school, she met the love of her life, Jim, who was serving in the US Navy, at a dance on St. Patrick’s Day. From that day forward, they built a life together with shared passions for family, community and volunteerism. During her life, Joanne was an active member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Ebony, VA, where she served on the Finance Committee. She also served as Homeowner’s Association Secretary for the Joyceville Community at Lake Gaston and was a member of the Red Hat Society. In Forest City, she was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and received the Saint Cecilia Award for 20 years of service as a liturgical musician. While her children were in school, she was active in 4-H and served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Forest City Regional Elementary Home-School Association. She took great pride in being organized and committed to doing what she said she would do. No challenge was too great. She took everything in stride and always found a way to get things done. She enjoyed reading, cooking, music, gardening, sewing and traveling. She was never afraid to try new things and had a passion for learning. Most of all, she was a devoted, caring and loving wife, mother and friend who will be truly missed and forever cherished by all those whose lives she touched. Surviving are her husband: James Tomazic, Bracey VA; her daughter, Karen Henry and her husband Christopher of Durham, NC; her two sons: Michael Tomazic of Durham, NC and Jeffrey Tomazic and his wife Heather of Honesdale, PA and her four siblings: Paul Tortolini of Chesapeake, VA, Donna Roberts of Gloucester, MA, Karen Eaton of Gloucester, MA, and James Tortolini of Beverly, MA. She was preceded in death by her sister, Marsha Keen-Tortolini. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Ebony, VA. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be made through our website, www.crowderhitecrews.com. Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Tomazic family.