JOANNE SHIRLEY GRACEFFO

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JOANNE SHIRLEY GRACEFFO

Passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 3, 2020, just shy of her 56th birthday. Originally from Winnipeg, Joanne called several international cities her home with IKEA, before settling for the last number of years in Vancouver.
Joanne was predeceased by her mother, Shirley and her father, Joe, grandparents, Leonardo Graceffo (Serafina) and Njell Davidson (Edna), and many relatives. She is mourned by all whose lives were touched by her presence, including her brother Lenny and his wife Shelley, her aunts, Norma and Helen, cousins, Palma Graceffo, Joe (Linda) Graceffo and sons, Leo and Nico, Kent, Mike, Lauren (Dean and daughter Georgia), Meghan (Mark and children, Caleb, Theo and Willow); Morgan (son Charlie); Yolanda, Susan, Lisa, Brad, Darren, Janice, Angela, and Andrea (and their children); friends, Tracy (Bob and children, James, Matthew, Alexander and Brittany), Jennifer, Rosalie and their children, her Martorana sorella's, fratello Sam and families, Linda and Guy Mercier and their children, Daniella, Sophia, and Sam, and a number of other special family, friends and colleagues including Patricia and David from Equitable Property Management.
Joanne's self-made successes, both personally and professionally, were achieved with the greatest of integrity. She was a conductor in her life, always guided by head and heart; not by what was easy, but what was right. She was admired, respected and will be missed by all. Her life was a concert of head and heart and the conductor was her integrity.
Full of contradiction, she was at times audacious and at times both fierce and kind, independent and intimate. She openly displayed her wicked sense of humour and made it her mission to encourage those around her to be and do better. These qualities earned her a life full of rich experiences and lifelong, loyal friendships.
Joanne loved children and was an integral part of the lives of several of her extended family and friends' kids' lives. Generous to a fault, Aunty JoJo brought joy to young and old through the mail, by phone and in person by remembering people not only on their special day, but always.
The hole that she has left in all our hearts is endless and although we are eternally grateful for the time we were blessed with, she left us all too soon.
Due to the spread of family geographically and the number of COVID restrictions, a service will be held at a later time, yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation of Canada.
Those wishing to reach out to the family can do so at www.raincoastfs.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2020