Sister JoAnn Bonauro died March 30, 2023 at Good Samaritan Hospital surrounded by her family and many Sisters of Charity. Born November 15, 1949, JoAnn entered the Sisters of Charity from her home parish of St. Thomas Aquinas, Brooklyn, NY in 1988, at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Convent, Jamaica, NY. Her ministry began as a teacher at St. Patrick’s School, Brooklyn, and Our Lady of the Angelus Catholic Academy, Rego Park, NY. Sister JoAnn’s ministry continued at St. Aidan’s Parish. Williston Park, NY in various capacities including Religious Education Director, Director of Faith Formation and Director of Family Ministry & Evangelization. She was the Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Brooklyn and St. William the Abbot Parish, Seaford, NY. She devoted her skills, time and love to several diocesan and congregation committees including Saint Finbar Church where she gave joyful witness to love through her charism of charity. JoAnn is predeceased by her parents, Dominick and Josephine (Damiano), survived by her brother Anthony, sister-in-law Helen, and niece Diana. The wake was held April 2, 2023 at Bartholomew’s Funeral Home, Bellmore and the Mass of Resurrection was held April 3 at St. Barnabas Church. The internment followed at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village Queens.
Our Lady of Peace is in Lynbrook, not Brooklyn
Also, there is no such thing as a “Mass of the Resurrection”. The Church’s funeral is properly called a “Mass of Christian Burial” or Funeral Mass for short!
I remember JoAnn as the young girl when we had many good times together. Especially, when we went to Puerto Rico for our high school graduation trip with Jane Hession and my future husband’s first cousin Regina. She will be missed. My prayers to her family.
Janet Sessa Faas
I’m saddened by the death of Sister JoAnn Bonauro. I met her when I joined the staff of St. Patrick’s School, BayRidge, and journeyed with her through her formation as a Sister of Charity. We teamed taught (she taught American history, I, American literature) She and I ran the student council: she the practical, I the romantic in administering justice to our students. LOL I wish I had known; we sat together in my apartment before she entered teaching her how to navigate the Hours of the Liturgy. may she laugh with the Lord. gerry moss