Josephine Blanche Cianciotto

Our dear Mother, Grandmother and Friend, Josie Cianciotto passed away on Sunday April 16, 2023. Born the daughter of Alex and Blanche Hawanchak on February 22, 1929, and was the last living sibling to Mary, Helen, Mike, Julie and Rosanne. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband Rocco of 63 years. Surviving are her two children and their families. Jeff (Heidi) of Madison, Alabama, and their children Jake and Josh, Lisa (David) of Roanoke, Virginia and their children, Bobby (Harley), Katie (Ryan), Danny. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Josie lived a full life! In October of 1955 she met Rocco at a dance hall in Latrobe, PA. They were engaged in December and married on June 9th, 1956. They settled in Greensburg, PA in the spring of 1957. Shortly thereafter their son Jeffery and daughter Lisa were born. When this happened, she gave up her career in banking to raise the children. While staying at home for about 15 years, she successfully sold both Avon and Tupperware to help finance music lessons and instruments for both Jeff and Lisa. During this time, they also started taking family camping trips. They shared wonderful memories of many singalong campfires with Mom playing her accordion and Jeff playing the guitar. When the kids were older, she returned to a local bank and became head teller until retiring.
After retirement, she and Rocco went to the gym on a regular basis and enjoyed dancing. They also continued traveling up and down the East Coast in their motorhome and were able to travel often to visit their children, family and friends. In 2008 they moved to Roanoke to be near family where they continued to go to the gym, travel, socialize and play BUNCO.

Mom especially enjoyed activities with her grandchildren! They all have fun memories of competing for quarters during the Left Right Center games, playing UNO and Pay Me! She also loved her plants, gardening and playing BUNCO with several groups of women each month. Another one of her joys was cooking and baking. She was a regular supplier of banana bread to her family and neighbors and always was eager to share her leftovers. We will be forever grateful for her Niece Bev who called her daily and her neighbors, especially Peggy and Patricia!

A memorial Mass will be celebrated 12 Noon on Friday, April 28th at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 631 North Jefferson St., Roanoke, VA 24016. The family will receive friends in the Chapel beginning at 11am. A private burial will be conducted later in Delmont, PA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Andrew’s church flower fund.

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