Joan Rita D'Angelo

Before her passing on December 7, 2025, Joan wrote a message to her friends and family, asking that they not mourn her passing, but instead rejoice that she had been called by the Lord to rest in everlasting peace.

Joan was born on September 22, 1940, to Salvatore Steven Giusti and Mary (Gherardi) Giusti. She proudly graduated from Napa High School, Class of 1958, and went on to attend Holy Names College.

On November 27, 1960, Joan married the love of her life and best friend, Salvatore (Sal) Carlo D'Angelo. At the time, Sal was renting an apartment from her parents, Steve and Mary, on the property of their family home in Napa. One weekend, while Joan was home from college, he was invited to join the family for a meal-and the rest is history. Sal passed away in 2003.

Joan is survived by her siblings, William Steven Giusti and Patricia Ann (Giusti) Quinn; her children, Catherine D'Angelo Holmes (David), Robert Carlo D'Angelo (Wendy), and Daniel Steven D'Angelo (Angela); her grandchildren, Jessie Lee D'Angelo (Sarah), Clayton Irwin D'Angelo (Mindie), Emma Quin Holmes Singer (Daniel), and Nicolas Steven D'Angelo; and her great-grandchildren, Jase Lee D'Angelo, Levi James D'Angelo, and one great-grandchild on the way with Emma and Daniel.

After years of volunteer work at St. Apollinaris School and Church, Joan sat her family down in 1977 to announce that Napa Valley was the second-largest tourist attraction in California-behind only Disneyland. With that insight, she created a publication called This Is Napa Valley, designed to help tourists navigate the wineries, resorts, restaurants, and famous mud baths of the Napa Valley.

In 1985, Joan changed careers and launched her own independent interior design business. She held court at Z Furnishings and later at Design Showcase, where her remarkable eye for color, design, and fashion truly shined. Her clients loved her work, which continues to live on in many homes-especially kitchens and baths-throughout the Napa Valley.

Joan flourished as a designer until Sal's passing in 2003, after which she retired and spent joyful years at Lake Almanor with friends, playing golf, cards, and Mah Jong.

Joan spent her final four years at The Watermark, where she once again left a lasting legacy. Fellow residents will fondly remember her playing Wordle, trivia, and bingo, earning her the nickname "Gamer D'Angelo." She used her wisdom, knowledge, and life experiences to become a true superstar for her teams.

Joan was endlessly giving-to her church, her friends, her family members, and to non-profits. "No" was simply not in her vocabulary. Joan, you have left your mark on Napa and in our hearts. Rest with the Lord.

At Joan's request, services will be private. In lieu of flowers or donations, she asked that others "forgive someone who has hurt them and forgive themselves as well." Joan Rita D'Angelo