JoAnna M. Kun's Obituary
JoAnna Maria (Nardini) Kun, age 85, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Tuesday, September 5, 2023 in Peters Township, Pennsylvania. She was surrounded in love by her daughters and several dear loved ones as she left this earth.
JoAnna was born on July 15, 1938, the oldest of four children to the late John M. Nardini and Lois Val Jean (Livermore) Nardini. In addition to her parents, JoAnna was preceded in death by her husband Andrew Kun; her beloved siblings Carolyn Lee (Nardini) Mullaney, John “Buddy” Nardini, and Dwain Nardini; her cherished son Charles John “C.J.” Knepper; her great-granddaughter Elle Luna Vann, and her longtime love Tom “Tommy” Bicusky.
JoAnna was raised in Carnegie, Pennsylvania and graduated from Carnegie High School in 1954. She worked at St. Clair Hospital as an X-ray technician for over ten years and retired with her husband to St. James City, Florida, where they lived in the same community with her sister and best friend, Carolyn. She loved living near the beach but frequently made the trip back to Pittsburgh to spend time with her children and grandchildren, eventually moving back for good after her husband’s and sister’s deaths. JoAnna's faith in the Lord carried her through her entire life. In her final days, she told us "Promise me you'll praise the Lord when I go because I will be in heaven with Jesus and won't be in pain anymore."
Born with flair and artistic talent, JoAnna was a prolific painter and leaves behind many beautiful pieces of work; her preferred medium was watercolors. She loved art and musical theatre, and watched with pride as her older daughter Kimma inherited her stunning artistic skills and younger daughter Heather thrived as a young musical theatre performer and, later, a TV and film actor. JoAnna was fiercely loyal and loving and encouraged her children with every fiber of her being. She was so many things, but she was first and foremost a mom - and later, a grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by daughters Kimma (Jonathan) Keevil and Heather Leigh (Tom) Earley; grandchildren Noelle Christina (Ben) Vann, Dwain Fisher, Addison Grace Lee, and Nicholas Robert Kramer; great-granddaughters Sydney Olivia Vann and Sloane Alessandra Vann; niece Jamie Jo Nardini and nephew John “Jay” Nardini; great-niece Autumn Elizabeth Nardini; sister-in-law and friend Elizabeth Nardini.; also many dear relatives and friends, including Debbie Staub, Bruce Torok, Carol Zalansky, and Mike Morelli. Special thanks to Dana Lacek and Laurie Biers, childhood friends of Kimma and Heather who visited JoAnna often and took her on outings.
JoAnna touched so many people’s lives even across social media where she reached almost a million followers who adored “Momma Jo.” She had a huge heart, always seeking out and befriending the lost, lonely, or sad people around her, even in her final days. A Celebration of Life service will be held in her honor at 12:00pm on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236.
Online condolences may be shared at www.jeffersonmemorial.com.
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