Joan M. Fontanella

Joan Marie Fontanella, age 87 of Totowa, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2022. She was surrounded by her family in the comfort of her home.

Born in Paterson, NJ, on October 29, 1934, she and her older sister Camille lived on Mill Street, with their parents James and Florence Iurato (nee Mott). In her younger years, Joan attended Saint Michael’s grammar school. She graduated from Mary Help of Christians Academy High School (class of 1953) North Haledon, NJ. The Salesian Sisters at those schools gave her not only a formal education, but values that guided her life.

Joan met her husband, Alfred Fontanella, in Saint Michael’s church choir, later to be wed in 1959.  Joan, a devoted wife and loving mother, dedicated her life to raising her nine children within the Catholic Church and serving the community.  She was an active parishioner at St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church for many years where she was a Eucharistic Minister and chairwoman of the St. Joseph Table and Palm Weaving committees.  For the last 20 years, Joan served the Salesian Sisters at the Provincial House of Mary Help of Christians Academy by helping care for the elderly sisters.   She often referred to the Sisters as her second family and loved them very much.

Family gatherings were extremely important to Joan. Preparing Sunday dinners for the entire family was a regular event.   She honored old family traditions such as St. Joseph’s table, making struffoli at Christmas, and Easter delicacies like Easter bread, pizza gana, wheat and rice pies. Joan and her family also spent a considerable amount of time at their house in Lake Wallenpaupack, PA.  At the lake house, the family would go swimming, boating, fishing, riding ATVs, and snowmobiling. Our home was always open to neighbors and friends, who often congregated for food and fun, followed by a fireplace gathering.

Joan was a loving wife of 43 years to the late Alfred E. Fontanella, Esq. (d. 2002).  Loving mother of Alfred J. Fontanella of Totowa, NJ; Andrew Fontanella of Bowie, MD; James Fontanella and his partner, Gretchen Minadeo, of Totowa, NJ; Daniel Fontanella and his wife, Gina, of Paterson, NJ; Paul Fontanella and his wife, Alexandra, of Totowa, NJ; David Fontanella and his partner, Liz Pires, of Clifton, NJ; Therese Manzi and her husband, Marco, of Totowa, NJ; Lucia Cardona and her husband, Peter, of Wayne, NJ; and Joan E. Fontanella, of Totowa, NJ; loving grandmother to her 18 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, and  loving sister to the late Camille (Dolly) Tozzi (d.2009) and her husband, Michael, of Fairlawn, NJ along with many nieces and nephews. Joan also leaves behind her two lifelong friends Betty Penotti and Judy Ventrella.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joan’s name are asked to consider a donation to:
The Salesian Sisters
659 Belmont Ave
North Haledon, NJ 07508
Attention Sr. Mary Rinaldi
Or Click Here to donate online and please leave a message in comments in memory of Joan Fontanella