Joan Renzo

Joan Ann (DeMarco) Renzo, 85, of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away Friday, August 23, 2019. She was born July 26, 1934 in Baltimore, MD to the late Charles Taggio and Marie Carnaggio and lived in the “Little Italy” neighborhood.  She was the widow of Frank Renzo.

Joan worked as an executive secretary for a Baltimore insurance company, was a United States Marine Corps Reservist and was active in the United Services Organizations (USO) where her beauty and talents garnered her many awards.  Joan was always one for adventure and frequently traveled to Manhattan for Fifth Avenue shopping excursions and to enjoy the famous jazz vanguards at the popular nightclubs of the day.  She, Frank and children moved to the Carlisle area in the late 1960s.  A devout Catholic, she was a member of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Catholic Churches where she volunteered and exalted God with her classically trained voice. Joan loved being a mother and her children were the focus of her life. Later in life she enjoyed working part time.  A compassionate soul, she sought to alleviate the suffering of others through charity work.  She found joy and expressed gratitude in simple things such as a cup of tea in the morning or smelling newly harvested lavender.  She cherished her friends.  She delighted in vegetable and flower gardening, learning the applications of aromatherapy and vacationing with her husband in tropical locales.  Joan was always fascinated by the angels whose company she now enjoys.

Surviving are her children, Lauren A. Renzo of Mechanicsburg, Joel F. Renzo of Binghamton, NY,Frank B. Renzo of Washington, D.C. and Johnathan E. Renzo of Carlisle; and her grandson, Zack Luis of Couvet, Switzerland.  Joan was preceded in death by her daughter, Sherry Ann Renzo, and her two sisters, Margaret and infant, T.C.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 6, 2019 at 11:00 AM in St. Patrick Catholic Church, 87 Marsh Drive, Carlisle, PA 17015 with Rev. Tiburtius Raja as celebrant. A viewing will be held Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 501 N. Baltimore Ave., Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065 and one half hour prior to the service. Burial will be held in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mechanicsburg. Arrangements are being handled by the Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Mt. Holly Springs, PA. Visit www.HollingerFuneralHome.com for condolences to the family.