Joanne Dolores Gibbons

Joanne Dolores (nee Casey) Gibbons passed away on Saturday, January 15th  surrounded by loved ones. Joanne (known to many as Nana) was 84 years young.   At the time of her death, Joanne lived at the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Maryland.

Joanne is survived by her husband of over 63 years, Patrick Connell Gibbons and her much loved four  children, their spouses and her grandchildren;  Patrick Gibbons Jr. and Lynn Davis Gibbons of Ellicott City, Maryland.  Mark Gibbons and Kathy Hannum Gibbons of Orlando, Florida.  Elizabeth Gibbons Jennings (LizAnn) and Richard Jennings of Ellicott City, MD and John Gibbons and Deirdre Healy Gibbons of Catonsville, MD.   Very near and dear to Nana’s  heart were her grandchildren:  Kelsey Gibbons Seymour and husband, Kevin Seymour,  Kerry Gibbons and her fiancé, Matthew McCracken, Jane Gibbons, Julia Gibbons,  James Jennings (Jim), Clare Jennings, Grace Jennings and Carly Gibbons.

Joanne is also survived by her brother, Joseph Casey, his wife, Claudia and their five children, spouses and grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Casey McGrath (Peggy) and John Casey Jr. (Jack).

Joanne was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 3, 1937 to Margaret Mullen Casey and John Casey.  She grew up in Mount Airy and after high school worked for the Bell Telephone Company and married Pat Gibbons on August 23, 1958.  By March, 1964 Pat and Joanne welcomed four children and had lived in three cities.  They settled in the Baltimore area in 1965.   Joanne threw herself into life as a busy mom.  She was a fun and beautiful lady, and a fabulous cook and homemaker.  Joanne loved to entertain and worked very hard to care for her children and support Pat’s career.  She made lifelong friends wherever she lived.   On many nights, there were more than four children at the Gibbons dinner table.

Although Pat and Joanne settled in the Baltimore area, they kept close contact with their family and friends in Philadelphia.  Pat and Joanne moved to Ellicott City, Maryland in 1984.   Many remember Joanne’s love and devotion in caring for her parents and her mother-in-law in their declining years.

After Pat’s retirement in 2000 , the couple moved to Ocean Pines, Maryland.  They enjoyed these years, which were enhanced by the company of long-time friends, including Kaye and John Maloney.  Joanne was active in the PEO sorority and was a member of the St. John Neumann Catholic church. Pat and Joanne returned to the Baltimore area in 2020 after Joanne’s health declined to be closer to some of their children.

Joanne passed away on Saturday, January 15th with much of her family at her side.  Nothing was more important to Joanne than her children and grandchildren.  She cared deeply about their happiness, invested herself in their education, applauded their success and supported them in their hours of need.  Despite COVID she was able to spend time with all on multiple occasions during 2021, including the first wedding of a grandchild.

Joanne will be missed greatly.   We will celebrate her life and pray for her on Friday, January 21st at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in Ellicott City, Maryland.   Visitation will be held in the church at 10:30 AM and be followed by a Catholic Funeral Mass at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Little Sisters of the Poor https://www.littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org/donate-now/ or Saint Paul’s Church https://stpaulec.org/giving