Joan Mazzeo

Joan Mazzeo  

Forever in our Hearts

May 30, 1927-January 26, 2018

Joan Mazzeo was born in Toronto, Canada, into a musical family.  Her father, John Pratt, was a church organist & music director. Her mother sang in the choir.  She & her sister Barbara studied piano & singing with their parents, often performing at their church.  She loved designing clothes, first for her dolls, & later for herself.  She was an accomplished seamstress who could design & sew everything from children’s costumes to her daughters’ bridesmaid dresses.

After completing high school, Joan toured with the renowned Leslie Bell Singers.  This women’s choir performed classical & Canadian folk music across Canada. These experiences were a highlight & source of joy to her.

She met her husband Andrew McClure, while working as his secretary.  After their marriage in 1948, they lived in Toronto & raised 3 daughters: Helen, Norma & Joyce.  Sadly, Andrew, who had battled the lifelong effects of childhood polio, passed away in 1965.  Desiring to connect with her sister Barbara in California, she moved to Montclair with her 3 children – “an adventure”, she always said.  In 1967 she married Joseph Mazzeo.  Their daughter Apryl was born in 1969.

By 1972 she was again alone raising 4 daughters in Orange County.  The Crystal Cathedral was her new church family.  She taught Sunday school, was a telephone counselor, & acted in the Glories of Christmas & Easter.

Joan loved travel. She taught her family that you don’t have to have a lot of money to enjoy life & see the world.  She took road trips with her daughters, and bought a timeshare.  She visited Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – fulfilling a lifelong dream.  Family reunions were often held at her timeshares.  She regularly supported her 9 grandchildren David, Shalene, Alex, Alan, Sarah, Phillip, Drew, Paige, & Ryan at their baseball games, band concerts, gymnastics events & birthday parties.

 Joan enjoyed her accounting career with Lockheed. She was a licensed tax preparer. Friends & small businesses were grateful for her help at tax season.

Joan lived with her daughter Helen &son-in-law Dave from 2013 to 2018.  She attended Calvary Chapel Life in Huntington Beach California. Friends loved her smile & sunny disposition.  

She will be missed by all her family and friends.

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