JO ANNE GORKOSKI, age 93, peacefully passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024. She was born December 8, 1930, in Jeffersonville, Indiana to the late Joseph and Mary Catherine (nee Kamer) O'Neill. Jo Anne lived a life of learning, having graduated from Dyke and Spencerian (1950), Kent State University (1969), Cleveland State University (1989), Akron University and Buffalo State College, holding a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree (1969), and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (1983). Jo Anne was an elected official to the Professional Rights and Responsibility Committee, House District Twelve Chairman of the National Education Association and a member of the American Business Women's Association. She received the Honorary Life Member of Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. Award, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Certificate of Recognition as a Jennings Scholar.  Jo Anne had an exciting and challenging career, having been with large corporations (Cadillac Tank Plant Division, General Motors Corp, to name a few) and as an Elementary School Teacher, feeling she had the privilege of working with students to help shape the future. She spent her career as an educator, teaching summer school, a driving instructor, the Able Learning program and Saturday Morning Enrichment classes. Jo Anne's love of teaching was second only to her love of her family and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Left to celebrate Jo Anne's life is her loving daughter, Linda "Susie" (Preston) White; her cherished grandchildren, Amy (Matt) Greenwood, John (Cendi) Gorkoski, Kyle White, Patrick (Elizabeth) Gorkoski, Katie (Rob) Mach, Daniel (Kelly) White, Lindsey (Deepika) Madari-White, Neil White; her adorable great-grandchildren, Ava, Alaina, Emilia, Finn, Coco, Levi, Adrienne, Henry, Quinn and Winnie; her nieces and nephews, P. Duffy, Kelly (dec), C. Duffy, Pat (Teri), Pam (Ken-dec), Joe (Dona), Cindy-dec;; and many extended family and friends.

Jo Anne is preceded in death by her 2 sons, Kevin (Ann) and Bryan Gorkoski; her siblings, Patrick O'Neill, Charles O'Neill, John O'Neill and Mary George; former husband, Chester.

The family will welcome friends to the Celebration of Life Memorial Mass for Jo Anne at 10:00am on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church located at 929 Pearl Rd in Brunswick, Ohio followed by a memorial luncheon at the Brunswick Eagles Hall, 349 Pearl Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, 791 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102. Online condolences and memories may be left for the family on Jo Anne's guestbook at www.WaiteFuneralHome.com.