Joanne P. (Ionata) Marinelli

96, of Johnston, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 22, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert Marinelli and the late Pasquale Squizzero. Born in Warwick, she was the daughter of the late Ferdinando and Catherina (Della Cioppa) Ionata.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Patricia C. Yanikoski and her husband Joseph; cherished grandson Michael Yanikoski and his wife Jennifer and dear great granddaughter Victoria. She was the sister of the late William O. Ionata and his wife, Doris, and cherished aunt of nephews David and Paul Ionata.

Joanne kept busy all her adult life. After completing high school she hoped to move to NYC and be an opera singer but that was not practical, so she soon entered the workforce as a ‘Kelly Girl’. This and other part-time jobs sustained her energetic personality during the 1950’s and 60’s as she and Pasquale raised their daughter, Patricia. She was briefly a Brownie leader for Patricia’s Girl Scout troop.

Her excellent work ethic propelled her to a position as Executive Secretary at the National Trading Company in Providence, where she worked for decades. Her husband Pasquale passed away suddenly when she was only 53years old. She began dating again, eventually meeting and marrying Robert Marinelli. She and Bob travelled often and enjoyed attending music recitals of her young grandson Michael.

After retiring, she missed the ‘action’ and became a secret shopper for banks and businesses in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, into her late 80s. She also attended casting calls for television and cinema extras for local shoots, appearing in several productions including Disney’s “Underdog” movie.

She settled down a bit in her 90s, enjoying going out for her daily Dunkin coffee, meeting new gentlemen callers, and occasionally driving to the Boston area to visit with her family including young great-granddaughter Tori.

Raised during the depression (she was born one week after the infamous 1929 stock market crash) she epitomized the Greatest Generation’s reputation for being feisty and unapologetically independant, in an era when that was unexpected of women. She will be missed.

VISITING HOURS will be Tuesday, December 30th from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. in the Nardolillo Funeral Home & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Cranston. Burial will take place in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.