Joanne F. Alessio

Joanne F. Alessio, age 61 of Palm Harbor, Fla. and Ridgefield, died on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at the Danbury Hospital. She was born in Endicott, N.Y., daughter of Julio and Carmen Piniella of Palm Harbor, Fla. She first attended schools in New York City, then graduated from Carteret (NJ) High School. Ms. Alessio obtained a bachelor degree and three aasters degrees from Brooklyn College and Rutgers University, respectively. She was working on her doctoral degree in social services. Joanne was an educator for 27 years with the Jersey City School System as an ESL teacher. She retired two years ago. Ms. Alessio was a member of the New Jersey Teacher's Union. She has been a part time resident of Ridge-field for the past 16 months residing with her brother, Raymond Piniella, his wife, Diane and their children. She is also survived by two additional brothers, Richard Piniella and his wife, Kim of Metuchen, N.J. and John Alessio of Emeryville, Calif.; a sister, Mia Piniella-Salerno and her husband, Peter of Mooresville, N.C.; four nieces, Giovanna Alessio, Amanda Joanne Salerno, Elise Salerno and Victoria Piniella; and five nephews, James Piniella, Michael Piniella, Christopher Piniella, Matthew Piniella, Benjamin Alessio and her birth father, John Alessio of Albuquerque, N.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 30th, 2010 at 10:15 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Ridgefield. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Ridgefield. The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. Contributions inJoanne's honor and memory may be made to the Joanne F. Alessio Scholarship Fund, St. Mary Regional Catholic School, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, CT 06877.