L. Joanne French

L. JOANNE FRENCH

SHERBURNE: L. Joanne French, 80, of Sherburne, NY passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, at her home.

She was born in Norwich, NY on October 17, 1942 a daughter of the late Floyd A. and Minnie (Coleman) Austin. She graduated from Sherburne Central School and Central City Business Institute in Syracuse.

Joanne worked as an executive secretary for Procter & Gamble for 33 years until her retirement in 1999. She was a communicant of St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church. She was a member of the Professional Secretary Association and the Chenango County Historical Society where she had served as secretary and continued as a member and volunteer.

Joanne loved to collect antiques with her sister, nieces, and friends throughout her life, and to display items of historical remembrance of good times past. No holiday would pass without a full re-decoration display throughout her home. She adored her family and grandchildren and found her daily comfort in the shaded area of her back porch where she would spend every morning with her coffee, feeding the chipmunks and squirrels that adopted her as their human, and looking out over her lush back yard. She possessed a generous spirit toward others, with a lifetime guided by her faith. Her true north, life’s work, and ultimate legacy is summed-up by her singular catchphrase, instilled upon her sons and family for decades: “Remember who you are, and who you represent”. She would often joke that the “L” in her name stood for “Lovely”.  Lovely, indeed.          

Joanne is survived by her son Matthew (Lenny Sue) French and grandchildren Lane and Ethan of Greensboro, NC; son Timothy French of Windsor, CT and grandchildren Sosie, Logan and Ryan with Jodie French, and twins Mira and Cole with Christine French; brother-in-law Steve Price of Sherburne; niece Laurie Price (David Hooker) of Sherburne; niece Cindy (David) Price of Norwich and great-niece Nicole (Brandon) Winter with children Raegen and Silas of Sherburne, and great-nephew Andrew Price of Sherburne; and her former husband and friend Jerold W. (Kathleen) French of Norwich. She is pre-deceased by her sister, Joyce Price.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 11am from St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church, 31 E. State St., Sherburne, NY 13460.

Friends are invited and may call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S Main St., Sherburne, on Saturday from 9-10:30 am prior to the Mass.  Interment will be in the spring at West Hill Cemetery, Sherburne.

Friends and family are invited to share photos of Joanne to help celebrate her life at services.

https://www.tributeslides.com/up/80861456323861

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Chenango County Historical Society, 45 Rexford St., Norwich, NY 13815 or the Chenango SPCA, 6160 County Rd., 32, Norwich, NY 13815.

To view a livestream of the Mass, please click the following link:     https://my.gather.app/remember/l-joanne-french