Joan (Mascaro) Gaetano

Of Beechview, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 96 after a brief illness, in her home surrounded by her family. Beloved wife for 62 years of the late Vincent Gaetano; daughter of the late Myrtle and Joseph Mascaro; loving mother of LeeAnn (Mike) Matesich, James "Jim Joe" Gaetano, Lori (Jonathan) Nadle and the late Vincent "Vincie" Gaetano; doting grandmother of Liz (Roger) Matesich and Emily (Tony) Sonita and Catharine Gaetano; sister of the late Gina Wicks.

After raising her family, Joan worked doing bookkeeping and accounting at a number of local businesses, including the Oyster House in Market Square, Travel King in Gateway Center, Camera Repair downtown, and finally, for a decade, as a Legislative Aid to the late state representative Frank Gigliotti.

Joan was a passionate activist for her Beechview community. She worked to get a Carnegie Library branch and, when the city agreed, volunteered for a week stocking books on the shelves for opening day in 1967.   

In the 1970s, Joan volunteered on the board of the county mental health agency, helping to develop one of the area's first drug addiction counseling programs. It was successful enough that other cities used it as a model for their own mental health services.

Joan successfully fought for Brookline students to have school bus service to Brashear, walking the route to show its excessive length. More recently, she fought to keep bus and T service in Beechview.

The family wishes to thank all of Joan's neighbors and caregivers. There are too many to name them all, but in particular the wonderful team at Amedisys, whose in-home hospice care provided her and us dignity and comfort, and neighbors Ron & Cheryl Tokay and Carmela Sweeney.

Friends received 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23rd, at BRUSCO-NAPIER FUNERAL SERVICE, LTD., 2201 Bensonia Ave., Pgh, PA 15216. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24th.  Entombment to follow in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Joan's church, Beechview United Presbyterian, 1621 Broadway Ave., Pgh, PA 15216, (412)561-0882. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan (Mascaro) Gaetano, please visit our floral store.