
JoAnn J. Castellano, age 88, of Cambridge and formerly of Isanti, died December 2, 2024 at GracePointe Crossing. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 7th at Strike Life Tributes in Cambridge. A time for visiting will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Stanchfield Baptist Cemetery at a later date.
JoAnn June Castellano was born January 21, 1936 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Jack and June (Stoneberg) Ferrier. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from South High School. On June 22, 1963 she married the love of her life, Richard “Rick” Castellano in Marble, Minnesota. In 1964 they moved to Isanti. JoAnn loved collecting antiques, doing all sorts of crafts including stained glass, quilting, and doll collecting. She was also a cat lover and Snowy and Sir Sterling were her most recent cats. She also loved to listen to music. She passed away while her favorite songs were playing at her bedside. Her last breath was drawn as her son Troy’s song “Enough To Say Goodbye” a tribute to her, came to an end.
She was always so proud of all of her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was an important part of each and everyone of their first years. She was known as Grandma Kitty. She took care of each and everyone of them for the first few years of their lives which made them all so close to her through life. She never said she was busy or had other things to do. She would drop everything to be able to be there for them.
Christmas was her absolute favorite time of year. She loved the family time and cherished every moment of it. Some of her most memorable Christmas holidays were spent up in the winter wonderland of Lutsen Minnesota. Many of those holidays were with all of her children and her grand children. Those were her absolute favorites and were still a part of her conversations in her later years.
Living in the Isanti since 1963 she made many lifetime friends. Most have preceded her in death but one special one remained to help with her care to the very end, Joyce Smieja. She was so grateful for those friendships and always let them know.
JoAnn died December 2, 2024 at GracePointe Crossing at the age of 88 years. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Rick; grandson Justin Gustafson, great-grandson, Dominick Lutterman and brother, Donald Ferrier.
JoAnn will be lovingly remembered by her four children, Scott Andrews (LaRae Van Hale), Kenneth (Pam) Andrews, Melanie Castellano (Daryl Berger), and Troy (Jeanne) Castellano; grandchildren, Kellie, Mindy, Jeremy, Kirsten, Nicholas, Mellissa, Ashley, Autumn, Cale, Callia and Cyann; sister, Sandy; and by many other relatives and friends, including a special niece, Kim Castellano.
Special thanks to the amazing staff at Grace Point Crossings and St. Croix Hospice’s loving care.
Troy,
Sending my heartfelt condolences and prayers to you and your family. May the Lord comfort you all .
My heartfelt sorrow is overwhelming. JoAnn was a very good friend and neighbor of mine. I think of all the bike rides we did together in Isanti with our kids and dogs. Long talks we had over morning coffee trying to solve the world’s problems.
She will be in my thoughts forever. Gods blessings to her children and grandchildren and the many friends she made along the way. She is finally at peace.
Your mom was very amazing woman. I loved her cooking when us kids would come over and get a treat. So much love and prayers your way for your family.
I have had the honor of spending some time at family get together with JoAnn, I met Troy 20 years ago and was welcomed in to his family as a friend. Joann was a wonderful lady and always pleasant to speak with.
My heart goes out to Joanne’s family, especially to Kellie, our daughter-in-law. She was so preciousl to you.
I worked with JoAnn at Is anti Packaging. We had many long talks during work the one thing that stuck out was the love she had for Rick he was the love of her life and the love they shared was something that anyone would be lucky to have. Rick had passed away when we worked together and she longed for the day she would be with him again. I have no doubt he was waiting with open arms for her.