JoAn Feyerabend

09/17/1932 - 12/12/2025

JoAn Grace (Fitzgerald) Feyerabend, 93, passed away on December 12, 2025. Born in Brooklyn on September 17, 1932 to Grace & Jim Fitzgerald, she lived the majority of her life in Syracuse. Growing up, JoAn loved spending summers at her family camp on Saratoga Lake. JoAn was a 1950 graduate of St. Anthony of Padua High School and a 1954 graduate of Le Moyne College where at both schools she was on the debate teams and captain of the cheerleading squads. She was an award-winning speed skater in her youth.
JoAn married her high school and college sweetheart Bill Feyerabend in 1954. They embarked on a 66- year loving marriage until his death on January 28, 2021 which included selflessly raising 7 children in a nurturing and happy environment. Some of JoAn's favorite family times were spent in camps on Sandy Pond and in Eagle Bay. After her two youngest children (twins) entered school, JoAn started a 20+year career at Syracuse University. JoAn was a communicant of St. Charles-St. Ann parish and served as an eucharistic minister. In retirement, she volunteered at Community Hospital, served on the Le Moyne College Alumni Advisory Board, worked the voting polls every election day and spent part of the winters in Florida with Bill. They also had season tickets for SU basketball and football and went to a game each year to watch their beloved Buffalo Bills. JoAn and Bill enjoyed attending their children and grandchildren's athletic events, concerts and recitals. JoAn was proud of her 100% Irish heritage and achieved her bucket-list wish of touring Ireland. She requested her favorite song, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" be played at her funeral.
In addition to her husband, JoAn was predeceased by two brothers, Rick and Mike (Sue) Fitzgerald, sister-in-law, Ruth (John) Larkin and nephew, Chip Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her children: Jack (Maggie), Patti (Mike) Grogan, Bill (Renate), Tom (Paula), Sharon (Peter) Osterdale, Bob (Angie) and Rich (Patti); 17 grandchildren Katrina (Scott), Matt (Kacey), Craig (Carrie), Sean (Jackie), Cassandra (Zack), Kayla (Ryan), Kyle (Mckenzie), Jay (Gillian), Carly (Brian), Grace (Conor), Marti, Emily, Abby, Tara, Lily, Lindsey, and Leah; four great-grandchildren Jack, Bennett, Emerson and Gael; a sister-in-law, Becky Fitzgerald and many nieces and nephews.
A calling hour will be held Saturday morning December 20, 2025 at St. Charles-St. Ann Church beginning at 8:30am with a funeral Mass following at 9:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in JoAn's name to St. Charles-St. Ann's, 501 S. Orchard Rd., Syracuse, NY 13219 or Helping Hounds Dog Rescue, 7268 Caswell Ave, North Syracuse, NY 13212.