JoAnn Gambardella

JoAnn (Viccora) Gambardella grew up in Astoria, Queens with her parents Stella and Joseph and her older brother Victor “VV” (at the hilarious address of 35-33 34th Street). Her ‘family first’ mentality began when she was a kid, and she spoke fondly and often of the many visits to and from “the Connecticut cousins.” She graduated from Long Island City High School, and was working at Conover-Mast in midtown Manhattan when she was set up on a blind date with the magnificent man who would become her husband, Bob Gambardella. JoAnn and Bob got married in 1958, and soon moved to Commack where they raised their 3 children MaryAnne, Rob, and AnnMarie. That house on Retta Lane (and decades later the condo on Gazebo Lane) was a revolving door of neighborhood children and school friends in the 70s and 80s, and grandchildren in the 90s and ‘00s, always full of laughter and incredible food thanks to JoAnn. She worked at OTB for 20+ years as a teller, making lifelong friends, and was a proud member of the Red Hats.

JoAnn was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, and friend. She loved traveling, going out to the movies, shopping (especially at Denny’s), nights out in the city going to dinner and Broadway shows, spoiling her grandchildren, and cooking the best meatballs you’ve ever tasted. As an avid basketball fan, she coached CYO teams in the 70s and years later the volume and frequency of her chants toward the opposing team made her the referees’ least favorite spectator at her grandchildren’s games. JoAnn was also a music lover, winning a lindy contest with Bob during their younger years and singing and dancing along to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin for many years afterward.

Faith was always at the center of JoAnn’s life, and she had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. She participated enthusiastically in Teams of Our Lady, Rosary Altar Society, the Columbiettes, and helped to build Christ the King parish in the 60s. Her faith was also evident in the way she treated everyone around her; JoAnn’s generosity and kindness knew no bounds. Everybody was welcome to a seat at her table, and her heart was made of pure gold.

JoAnn joins her loving husband Bob (1932-2021) in Heaven, and is survived by her 3 children MaryAnne (Jeff) Haney, Rob (Mary Ellen) Gambardella, and AnnMarie (Kevin) Mundinger; her grandchildren Brian (Rachel) Haney, Bobby (Katie) Haney, Brandon (Juliana) Haney, Samantha (Will) Tangel, Josh Gambardella, Justin Gambardella, and Christopher Mundinger; and her great-grandchildren Cameron Haney and Vienna Haney. “Love you more!”
In lieu of flowers, JoAnn’s family requests that memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer’s Association, God’s Love We Deliver, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.