Joanne Raya Pandoli

Joanne Raya Pandoli, 92, died peacefully on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Born in Ludlow to the late J. Raymond and Victoria A. (Falbo) Curley.

She is survived by her eight children; Susan Lucas, Bob Pandoli, Larry Pandoli, Greg Pandoli and his wife Jeanne, Martha Leonard, Janice Persson, Lisa Blais and her husband Steve, and David Pandoli. Her 12 grandchildren; Jennifer Pandoli, Michael Lucas, Sabrina Pandoli, Jessica Either, Jeffrey Lucas, Erica Dulude, Kristina Unsderfer; Alyssa Leonard, Ashley Leonard, Tyler Blais, Andrea Schrader and Aimee Carvalho. Her 17 great grandchildren; Chloe, Sierra, Victoria, Sophia, Audrey, AJ, Emmaleigh, Trevor, Addison, Evan, Travis, Kennedy, Huxley, Karoline, Fiona, Kash and Lucas. As well as her many nieces, nephews, cousins and her dear friends Cindy and Sue. In addition to her parents, Joanne was also predeceased by her son-in-law, John Leonard; grandson, Brian Persson; brother, Victor Curley and sister, Mickey Rattelle.

Hardworking and brilliant woman, she graduated from Classical High School and studied science at Our Lady of Elms until she left to take care of her family. She worked for many years as a secretary at Baystate Medical Center and helped run her mother’s ceramic studio. Her most challenging role was raising her eight children.

Born in the Depression led to penny pinching frugality and self-taught skills to take care of her family and home well before YouTube. For years she showed off her super seamstress abilities by sewing her children’s clothes and knitting mittens. She taught herself how to reupholster furniture, refinish her hardwood floors and trim throughout the house, fancy HGTV themed wall painting treatments, and even built a humongous stone patio around the swimming pool.

Lifelong learner of history inspired by her formidable years during World War II, where all four of her uncles served, and her mother and grandmother volunteered for the Navy Mother’s Club. Avid reader of historical fiction, Nora Roberts, and over the top love of the Outlander series. Appreciated musicals, especially Les Mis, which she never missed an airing on PBS. Many car rides spent listening to the John Williams movie soundtrack doing Superman arms and E.T. fingers.

Coming through the open back door, one could find her sitting in her spot with a book in hand listening to either easy listening or QVC in the background. Evenings were full of the nightly news, Wheel of Fortune in awe of Vanna White’s stage presence, Jeopardy until the Ken Jennings era, and a bowl of ice cream. Her home was the center of the family gatherings from summertime birthday BBQs at the swimming pool floating on super duper tubes and making whirlpools to stuffing making on Thanksgiving Eve. She found enjoyment with everyone piled up on the furniture and all over the floor with multiple conversations happening at the same time. With her family is where her dark sense of humor shined through, and every now and then known to give a straightforward kick-in-the-pants.

Every summer she spent a week at the beach creating memories with her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Impressed everyone with her epic floating abilities, she could float forever!

When in doubt just remember you make a better door than a window.

Nothing Gold Can Stay
By Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.


Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 18 from 10AM-12Noon, with a brief Remembrance Service at 12Noon, at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Burial will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Springfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, 3350 Main St., Springfield, MA 01107.