JoAnn Joseph McKelvey

JoAnn Joseph McKelvey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt, passed away peacefully October 17, 2025.

Born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, on October 10, 1939, JoAnn was the daughter of George and Angeline Joseph. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Andy McKelvey; her parents; and her siblings Johnny (Eva), Mildred, Marie, George (Cora), and Leroy.

She is survived by her children Bob (Patti), Mary Pat (John), and Tim (Carla); and by her eight grandchildren who brought her endless joy — Andrew, Robbie, and Molly McKelvey; Thomas and Matthew Simmons; and Megan, Daniel, and Jack McKelvey. She will also be fondly remembered by her brother-in-law Ben Tranguch, many nieces, nephews, and friends whose lives she touched over the years.

JoAnn and Andy began their married life together in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, before moving to Centerville, Ohio, where they raised their family for more than 20 years. During that time, JoAnn worked at Sears in the custom drapery workroom, and she was deeply involved in her children’s schools and parish community. She was an excellent cook, and everyone looked forward to her delicious Italian dinners on Sunday evenings.

After their time in Ohio, JoAnn and Andy made their homes in Fort Collins, Colorado, and later Sanibel Island, Florida, where they enjoyed their retirement. On Sanibel, JoAnn gave her time generously to BIG ARTS and St. Isabel Catholic Church, earning recognition for her volunteer efforts.

JoAnn had a gift for making every house a home. She loved decorating, crafting, counted cross-stitch, and music. As a teenager she danced at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and in her seventies, she joined a tap dance group that performed at Walt Disney World, an experience she treasured and talked about often.

JoAnn’s warmth, creativity, and devotion to her family will be remembered by all who knew her. Her legacy lives on in the meals she taught us to make, the traditions she started, and the love she shared so freely.

A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate JoAnn’s life will be held at St. Leonard’s in Centerville, OH, on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place at St. Leonard’s from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.