Joan M. Taylor

Joan Marie was born in Jamestown, NY on July 15, 1935 to Eva and James Cappellino and raised in Rochester, NY. She was a fighter from birth. The doctors thought she was a still-birth and discarded her tiny body but she wiggled and squirmed just enough to gain the attention of a resident doctor who pulled her from the trash. She would regale that story often and in retrospect it seemed to be the fuel to her fierce determination to become a strong woman.
She graduated from Nazareth High School in 1953. There she made life-long friends who were lovingly referred to as aunts and uncles to her children. The house would fill laughter and love during their visits. She treasured these friendships.
During her marriage to Bernie Gennarino, a career Navy officer, and their years stationed in various places she nurtured life-time relationships with other women on those bases. Mom's compassion and empathy made her a true friend to so many.
She went to cosmetology school and then SUNY @ Oswego to continue on a trajectory of entrepreneurship. At a young age she opened her own beauty salon, "Joan Marie's". She loved the camaraderie in the shop and took pride in making her clients feel and look beautiful. She then took to teaching her trade for the BOCES program. Her students loved her and again she forged lasting friendships.
Joan Marie re-married to Thomas G. Taylor, Sr. and instantly the family multiplied. Mom was now charged with 5 children. Her determination to provide for her family and community kept her running full steam. She fluidly juggled 3 full-time careers. She started her Kodak career on the assembly line. By the time of her retirement she was a key player in her department. One job was not enough to give her family the best so she studied for her realtor license and her and her husband Tom teamed up to give the Rochester Area reliable, honest and knowledgeable real estate experts. Weekends, nights and holidays were not off limits to clients. Our home phone was always ringing, a potential deal on the other end.
We know her best as Mom, the career she excelled at. Her tireless efforts to keep our family safe, warm and loved amaze us to this day. At days end with her superwoman capes neatly hung you could find her sitting on the couch with an inviting lap to rest a weary head.
Thank you Mom for all your sacrifices, thank you for teaching us to be good, honest and hard working. Thank you for making us your priority. We will miss you dearly.
Joan Marie passed peacefully in the early morning hours of November 12th surrounded by her loving family. She is predeceased by her mother and father, Eva and James Cappellino, her husband, Thomas G. Taylor Sr. and her dearest sister-in-law, Sylvia Cappellino. She is survived by her brother, James Cappellino, her sons, James M. Gennarino, Thomas G. Taylor Jr. (Janet Taylor) and Paul J. Taylor; her daughters, Michelle Proctor (Chuck Proctor) and Julie M. Gennarino (Lisa Thomas). She leaves behind a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
The family will have a private interment at White Haven Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Life in the Spring. Date to be determined. The family will reach out once arrangements are made. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (give.michaeljfox.org)