Joanne Cottone

Joanne (Rodopoulos) Cottone
longtime resident of Methuen, MA

and more recently Salem, NH

HAVERHILL, MA -- Joanne (Rodopoulos) Cottone, longtime resident of Methuen, MA and more recently Salem, NH passed peacefully in her sleep early on Sunday, February 2, 2015 at the age of 90. Joanne had resided at Penacook Place in Haverhill, MA for the last three years.

Predeceased by her parents Costas and Georgia Rodopoulos and sisters Connie and Marie and brothers George, William, Peter and Jimmy, and favorite son-in-law Daryl Logdin. Survived by sister Helen Patrick of Bayside, NY and brother Chris Rodis of Boca Raton, FL, son Charles Cottone and his wife Susan of Windham, NH and daughters Antoinette Longdin of Salem, NH and Georgia Ann Cottone of Arcata, CA, granddaughters Michelle Paris and fiance Tommy Bennett of Derry NH and Tracy Paris Marino and husband Mark Marino of Lynn, MA, great-grandchildren Josh Gosselin, Zack Bennett, and Taylor and Anthony Marino, dozens of loving nieces and nephews, and her best friend Luisa Depaulino.

Joanne was born in 1924 to Costas and Georgia Rodopoulos of Lowell, MA. She was one of the youngest of 9 children and grew up living on Market Street in Lowell. At the age of 12, she was singing on local radio stations. Along with her sisters Connie and Helen, she formed The Rodis Sisters, a swing style singing group. Joanne and The Rodis Sisters sang professionally for over 10 years, were the opening act for major touring swing bands, toured for the USO during World War II, and eventually settled in New York City. Joanne also preformed solo as a jazz vocalist for several years. Her love of songs and music continued to fill her life and she sang at every family function for many years.

While working as a solo act, Joanne met the late Salvatore Cottone and gave up show business to marry and have a family. Divorced after 10 years of marriage, and with three children under the age of five, she worked three jobs for a time and quickly bought a house in Queens, NY. She would devote the next 15 years to raising her children as a single mom. She was an office manager for the Automobile Club of America, supervising 50 driving instructors, and then for Dual Purpose, a busy HVAC contractor.

Aunt Joanne was a favorite aunt of all her nieces and nephews, as she let the girls play with her makeup, jewelry, and wigs, and allowed the boys to run wild and just be boys. There was always a backyard pool at her house for the summer and ice cream and cake year round. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for a while but let go because "the kids were having TOO much fun."

Joanne had a soft spot for anyone in need and would help anyone, even total strangers, if she saw they needed it. She once saved a man who had had a heart attack on the subway platform. Numerous friends of her children lived with them for periods of time, as Joanne would take in any child having problems at home and try to heal them and the rift with their families. Joanne loved dogs, particularly Afghan Hounds of which she had several over the years.

At the age of 47, with two daughters still in middle school, and her elderly parents needing full time care, Joanne moved her family to Methuen, MA. She bought a house for her parents and became their primary caregiver, working the midnight shift as an Inspector and Solderer at Raytheon and caring for her parents and children during the day. After her father's death, she brought her mother into her own home and cared for her until she had a mild heart attack lifting her out of bed. After her mother's death, Joanne continued as a devoted caregiver for other loved ones in their final years, including her brother Jimmy, her sister-in-law Clara, and her sister Marie.

COTTONE -- Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visiting hours on Friday February 6th from 4 to 8 pm at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. Her Funeral Services will take place on Saturday February 7th at 11 am at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 62 Lewis St., Lowell, MA. Interment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell.

For Directions or online condolences please visit www.cataudellafh.com.