Joan Helen (Mazerik) Sipus

Private funeral services were held on Friday November 22, 2024, at Calvary Cemetery with Dominican Father Frassati Davis presiding for Joan Helen Mazerik Sipus, formerly of Boardman who passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, of complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Joan, who was affectionally known as “Jo Ann” by her brothers, was born January 2, 1938, in Youngstown, a daughter of Joseph Mazerik and Helen Vavrinak Mazerik. She was delivered at home by her grandmother, Elizabeth Drozd Vavrinak, a well-known midwife in the local Slovak community. At the age of two, Joan's mother passed away and Joan lived with her grandmother until the age of seven when she died. From that point until the age of 14, Joan was raised by her foster parents, Eugene and Violet Williams, on a dairy farm in Salineville. It was there she learned to feed chickens, take care of animals, joined 4H and grew to love life in the country and on the farm. At the age of 15 she moved back to Youngstown to live with her paternal aunt and uncle, Mary (Mazerik) and Ralph Deluca and worked at the Pyatt Street Market at the Deluca's vegetable and fruit stand. She attended South High School and married Eugene Sipus Sr. on February 16, 1957.

Joan was a stay-at-home mom for the first half of her married life and was involved in Cub Scouts, Boardman School PTA, Camp Fire Girls, baseball, wrestling and dancing. She made all of her daughters' costumes and loved to bake and cook.  She was known for her delicious baklava, kolache and homemade pierogi. She kept up Slovak Christmas and Easter traditions. If Joan didn't know how to do something, she taught herself and became very proficient at it.

At the age of 38 she became a licensed real estate agent and was a member of Youngstown Board of Realtors for many years. She worked for many companies over the years, starting with Century 21-Mike Domer Realty and ending with Mill Creek Companies, selling residential and commercial real estate, and becoming a licensed Broker in Ohio and Florida. She owned her own real estate company, Foxchase Realty and Colony Realty, and amassed a total of over 40 years selling properties.

Joan was the genealogy expert of the family. She spent many hours in the library at the microfilm and microfiche machines, reading old obituaries and looking up old census records, military records, ship manifests and other documents related to her family history. She leaves this legacy for her children and grandchildren to enjoy. She was a proud supporter of US veterans and was very proud of all the veterans in her family.

She was of the Catholic faith and was a former member of St. Luke's Parish and St. Dominic's Parish.

Joan leaves her daughters, Yvonne Palagano (Atty. Michael) of Boardman, Joan Mangeot of Villa Hills, Kentucky; her sons, Stephen Frank Sipus II of Boardman, with whom she made her home and Eugene J. Sipus, Jr. (Kristin) of Dunellon, FL. She also leaves eight grandchildren: Katie, Gina (Will Lazaroff) and Michael Palagano; Sidonie and Jolie Mangeot; Mitchell Sipus (Mallory); Elizabeth Maddox (Brandon) and Stephen Frank Sipus, III (Dinique), three great-grandchildren and a special sister-in-law, Sylvia Mazerik, of Johnstown, PA.

Her three brothers, Joseph, Robert, and Richard Mazerik are deceased.

The family would like to thank the staff of Omni West Haven Assisted Living for the excellent care and loving comfort given to Joan while she was a resident there, and the Akeso Hospice Nurses for their loving care of her, and special thanks to Father Frassati Davis.

The family requests that material tributes be sent to Animal Charity, 8469 Southern Blvd. #3, Boardman, OH  44512 in Joan's name.

The family has entrusted their loved one to the Kubina Yuhasz Wasko Funeral Home.

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