Joan Di Paolo

It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude for her life that we announce the passing of Joan DiPaolo, a beloved matriarch, who left this world peacefully in her sleep on May 24, 2026, at the age of 91. Born Joan Callahan on March 1, 1935, in the bustling neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, she was the cherished daughter of Edward Callahan and Eileen Glennon. Joan's journey was marked by a deep sense of devotion to her family, her faith, and her community. In 1954, she married the love of her life, Dan DiPaolo, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter and great food, first in Brooklyn and later in Huguenot, Staten Island. Their bond remained unbroken until Dan's passing, almost 70 years later. Joan's life was one of service and dedication. After receiving her high school degree, she worked as a telephone operator, making connections across the city before pausing her career to nurture her growing family. Her love and care for her children were paramount, and she found joy in the everyday moments they shared. When her children were older, Joan returned to the workforce as an Office Administrator at Cotterell, Mitchell & Fifer, where she played a vital role in helping nurses secure their liability insurance. A woman of unwavering faith, Joan was an active and cherished member of the Our Lady Star of the Sea parish community. Her volunteer work, particularly around the school, was just one way she demonstrated her deep commitment to nurturing and supporting the next generation. Joan's pride in her Irish heritage and her devout Catholic faith were central pillars of her life, and she instilled these values in her family. Joan was a beacon of warmth and kindness, known for her ability to make everyone feel important and valued. She came from a large family and cherished the strong family values she was raised with, which she passed on to her own children and grandchildren. Predeceased by her beloved husband, Dan, and siblings Buddy, Bobby, Nancy, Cathy, and Jimmy, Joan leaves behind a legacy of love in her surviving family. She is cherished and remembered by her children, Ed (and wife Kim), Lucy (and husband Marco), Dan (and wife Christine), and Mark (and wife Cathy); her grandchildren Victoria (and husband Doug), Michael (and wife Casey), Samantha (and husband Matt), Jessica (fiance Mark), Katie, Michelle ( and husband Chris), and Allison; and her great-grandchildren Jameson, Harper, Sydney, Antonia, and Henry and her sister Eileen Schaefer. The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers of Home Instead and Northwell Hospice staff for their compassionate care, enabling Joan to remain in her beloved home during her final year. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Friday at Our Lady Star of the Sea located at 5411 Amboy Road Staten Island, New York 10312. Interment will be in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens, Woodbridge, NJ. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd, Staten Island, New York. Joan DiPaolo's life was a testament to the enduring power of love, faith, and family. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.scaliahome.com

Joan Di Paolo

March 1, 1935 - May 24, 2026