"Our hearts are saddened to learn of your loss,. Please know we are with you. The picture you chose captures the essence of her beautifully. Seeing her loving, smiling face warms our hearts . Our prayers, love snd sympathy go out to you all in a huge way . With love, Joey & Patty (D?Angelo) Scarlata "
In loving memory of
Joan V. Lacagnina
December 12, 1932 - September 2, 2021
GREECE - September 2, 2021. Joan is predeceased by her husband, Joseph Lacagnina; parents, Michael & Angela Mattia; sister, Alma Mariano & brother John Mattia. She is survived by her children, Jim (Mary-Jo) Lacagnina, Ann (Richard Zylka) Lacagnina, Michael (Karen Burwell) Lacagnina & Mary Jo (Craig) Smith; grandchildren, Christine Maguire, Laura Maguire, Carra Lacagnina, James Andrew Lacagnina, Kevin (Katherine) Smith, David (Jacqueline) Smith, Mattia (fiance, Zach Schwartz) Lacagnina & Evelyn Lacagnina; great-grandchildren, Wyatt & Olin Smith; siblings, Marian Wallace & Joe (Beverly) Mattia; sisters-in-law & brother-in-law, Joan Mattia, Michael (Joanne) Lacagnina; several nieces, nephews, cousins & dear friends.
PER JOAN'S FAMILIES REQUEST ALL GUESTS ARE ASKED TO WEAR MASKS AT THE FUNERAL HOME & CHURCH.
Joan's life story will be shared during her visitation at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage lane (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.) Thursday, September 9th, 4-7 PM. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated, Friday, September 10th, 10 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, 2400 W. Ridge Rd., immediately followed by her interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Alzheimer's Association, 435 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, NY 14620 or to American Cancer Association, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 in her memory.
Joan Lacagnina was born Joan Verna Mattia on December 12, 1932 in Rochester, NY. She grew up in Rochester, NY on Emerson Street. Her parents were Angela and Michael Mattia. Her father was a tailor and her mother was a homemaker. Joan was very close to her siblings, Alma, John, Marian and Joey. Joan had a very happy childhood in spite of the Great Depression.
Joan grew up surrounded by her loving sisters and brothers, cousins and friends. She was often found helping her mother out in the kitchen. She was especially close to her father, meeting him at the bus stop after his long day of work and walking hand in hand with him back home. She loved reading, making fudge and her Shirley Temple doll, which she kept her whole life.
Joan attended Holy Rosary School. She graduated from Nazareth Academy in Rochester. She had many friends from there, but was especially close to Joanne Ronzo and her family. Joanne introduced Joan to her husband Joe on a blind date at Sea Breeze Park. Joan and Joanne remained friends till Joan's death. Joan loved to dance and attended many dances with her friends and her sister Marian.
She was especially good at math which led to her successful career. She began her career as a bookkeeper and finished it as a comptroller. She was admired by her co-workers and supervisors, one of whom tapped her to begin, grow and help run his own successful property management company.
Joan valued family above all else. She was a devoted wife to her husband Joe, the love of her life. She had four children she raised with boundless love and wisdom, Jim Lacagnina (Mary-Jo Lacagnina), Ann Lacagnina (Richard Zylka), Michael Lacagnina (Karen Burwell), and Mary Jo Smith (Craig Smith). She had 8 grandchildren, Christine Maguire, Kevin Smith (Katie Smith), Carra Lacagnina, James Andrew Lacagnina, Laura Maguire, David Smith (Jackie Smith), Mattia Lacagnina and Eveyln Lacagnina. She took great pleasure in cooking and baking for them often. She attended sporting events, plays and concerts on a regular basis. Their Nana was their greatest and happiest fan.
Joan also enjoyed her role as aunt to many nieces and nephews on both the Mattia and Lacagnina sides of the family. She loved large family gatherings with them. She often hosted them herself even as she worked full time and was busy raising her own family. When her father passed away when Joan was only in her thirties, she was quite shaken by his loss and missed him greatly throughout her life.
Joan took great and tender care of her mother until her death not all that many years ago at nearly 101 years of age. When her children married, Joan worked hard to be a good mother-in-law. She showered her sons and daughters-in-law, and grand-daughters-in-law with love and affection. Spending time with her two great grandsons, Wyatt and Olin Smith, in recent times was one of the great joys of Joan's life.
She loved having her grandchildren stay overnight at her house. She was always happy to have one or two of them crawl in bed with her for an early morning cuddle and cups of coffee brought by her loving husband. Lots of long talks and fun stories were shared during those long cuddles.
Her children and grandchildren are so grateful for the many Sundays with her sauce, pasta and meatballs. She was well known for spoiling loved ones with food.
Joan loved to travel. She and her husband Joe drove cross country several times. She especially loved traveling to New Orleans and San Francisco. After years of the financial challenges of raising 4 children and sending them to private Catholic schools, Joan and Joe really relished their ability to travel and eat in great restaurants. Wisely, Joan had chosen in the early 70s to invest in the stock market, providing her and Joe with a very comfortable and richly deserved retirement. Joan traveled with her sister Marian to Hawaii. She and her sister-in-law Christine DiBacco were more like best friends, with the two traveling to France and Italy together for the trip of a lifetime. Joan and Joe also often traveled to the Outer Banks with their friends the Ronzos and the Cantisanos.
Joan was a lifelong football fan and relished going to Buffalo Bills games from time to time. Watching a game with her at home was filled with lots of shouts of joy or disgust depending on how the Bills were doing. She also loved and followed many other sports with great passion. It was never wise to call her during a golf tournament or tennis match in her later years.
Joan was a devout Catholic, a member of Holy Rosary Church in Rochester and then later St John the Evangelist in Greece, NY. She had great faith. Faith which sustained her throughout her most difficult days, especially in the years following her husband's death.
She was grateful and kind to the people who cared for her at the end of her life, earning their respect and devotion. Joan taught her loved ones so many things by her example. She was organized, reflective, and attentive to detail. She was kind and forgiving. She was fun loving and passionate about her interests. She was brutally honest if she witnessed wrongdoing. She was willing to do just about anything to care for the people she loved. Joan knew the power of gratitude in living a happy life. Her family and friends will miss her more than they can say.
Tributes
"To Joan's Children, my belated but most sincere sympathy on the loss of your mom. I worked with Joan at Kenrick Corporation in the 90s and I always admired her knowledge, her humor, and her energy. She loved her children and grandchildren very much and never hesitated to 'brag' about them. I have many special memories of her and will always keep her in my heart. She's with your dad now, may they both rest in peace. With many sympathetic thoughts to you and your families, Eileen Kaiser "
"My sweet Angel ?? It was an honor to care for you and walk your journey alongside you. You are missed SO much at Bill and Judes. We miss hearing you lead prayer before meals and your unending love and wisdom you shared with staff. I love you Momma. Rest Peacefully my darling. "
"To my lovely Auntie Joan w/ your beautiful smile! RIP! As one of the three "Joan Mattia's". I fondly recall you & my late father John R. Mattia cutting a rug & jitterbugging together! Mom told me you taught him to dance! Thanks for that & thanks for being such a great sister to him as well & I hope you are jitterbugging together again in eternity!!!! My heartfelt sympathies to all of my cousins & their extended families~"
"We would like to express our sincere condolences to all of the Lacagninas and extended family. Joan always had a smile that lit up the room and was loving and welcoming. It meant a lot growing up and will never be forgotten. May God bless you all with loving memories."
"I met Joan through the other Joan Mattia and enjoyed her kindness in joining our St. Ann's Angel group and she was a very generous and willing participant. Met her at Saratoga once where we enjoyed her company at dinner and the races. Our prayers for her and the family. Jackie and Joe DeMaria"
"To her loving family: It was my privilege to know Joan for the last few months as I took her holy communion every Sunday since last Easter. She was the highlight of my day. She loved each of you so much and I loved her. She is now at peace and in the loving arms of God. Blessings, Sr. Barbara Baker, MHSH from Church of the Resurrection in Fairport. "