Joan Elizabeth Giglione, age 87, of Leawood, KS, passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Ascension Living St. Joseph Place. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, June 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS, followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Raytown, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial contribution to the Nativity Parish School Guardian Angel Fund.

Joan was born November 8, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri to James (King) & Ida Distefano.  She was a lifelong resident and was raised in Kansas City's North End (Columbus Park), as well as the Historic Northeast.

Joan attended Holy Rosary Grade School and St. Teresa's Academy High School.  Before marriage, she worked at New York Life as secretary to the regional manager. On April 27, 1957, she married Anthony Giglione at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri and they raised three sons together. She was a wonderful homemaker, an amazing cook, and loved feeding people.  There was always "just a drop left"  she wanted you to have which amounted to another full plate.  She loved tending to her hasta garden and feeding the birds.  And so worried about them, she would set out warm water in the winter for fear they didn't have enough to drink.  She was particularly fond of beagle and basset hounds. She was a private person but if you knew her you knew the meaning of the word kindness.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Anthony Giglione , her parents, grandparents Vito & Stefania Bentivegna, her aunt Minnie Bentivegna, her brother-in-law & sister-in-law Sam & Esther Zicarelli, and brother-in-law Frank Santillan.

Joan is survived by her children Carl (Linda) Giglione, Jim (Debbie) Giglione, Stefan (Janine) Giglione; seven grandchildren:  Anthony Giglione, Lauren (David) Hobson, Tony Giglione, Angie Giglione, John, Philip, and Peter Anthony Giglione; two great-grandchildren Kayleigh and Brooklyn Hobson; sister-in-law Virginia Santillan; and many nieces and nephews on her husband's side.  She is also survived by numerous cousins in Catania and San Teodoro, Sicily.

Although we are grateful she is finally free of the ailments she suffered through in her later years, we will miss her dearly. She was the best Mother and Nana anyone could've asked for and we take comfort she is finally with our Lord and Blessed Mother.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ascension Living Saint Joseph Place for the compassion and care shown to Joan these last few years.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com