JoAnn (Niccoli) Giambalvo, 87, of Higginsville, MO, went to be with her Lord on August 21, 2021. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with a Memorial Service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, KCMO.

JoAnn was born in Kansas City, MO, to Dan "Po" and Anna "Gram" Niccoli. She grew up on Forest in the Italian North End before her parents moved to Coleman Road in the Valentine District. After graduating from Northeast High School she worked at UMB Bank in the cash vault, and Paxton Lumber Co. JoAnn married Santo "Sonny" Giambalvo on October 15, 1955, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Sonny and JoAnn had four daughters between 1956 and 1965 while living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom brick bungalow on South Askew in Historic Northeast. It was in this crowded house that she worked as a wife, mother, and homemaker for many years. As her daughters grew, she started working outside the home. First, as a cook for the Italian Gardens Restaurant, then as a "Lunch Lady" for the KCMO School District. There she advanced to cafeteria manager at Scarritt School, from where she retired. Widowed in 1995, she went back to work as a receptionist for 14 years at Salon Ego in Gladstone, MO. She then moved to Higginsville, MO where she worked at Salon Michelle's. She lived in Higginsville for 12 years.

JoAnn was best known for her Italian cookies, especially during the holiday season. She would start in early December and keep baking and delivering right up to Christmas week. Her family would help roll, ice, and tray them. The whole house smelled of sugar. She used recipes from The American Daughters of Columbus cookbook and one really old recipe from her friend and neighbor Pauline DiGiovanni. Sometimes she used cookies as currency or trade – she'd call it "bartering". Most times though, she used them to give thanks or show appreciation such as bringing a tray to the fire station at Independence Avenue & Van Brunt. There are so many examples of this. It was her gift to the many special people in her life.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Santo Giambalvo; daughters Mary Jo Giambalvo and Donna Carrender; brother Joseph "Buck" Niccoli; sister Benita "Dee Dee" Manos; and infant grandson Matthew Quintero. She is survived by her daughters Anna Marie Quintero (Ricardo) and Kathleen Kornis (Ben); half-sister Lori McGrath (Mike); grandchildren Laura Long (Scott), Victor A. Quintero, George Kornis (Courtney), Joanna Comstock (Justin), LeAnn Krupka (Kip); great-grandchildren Grace J. Long and Reed J. Krupka; and many, many extended family and friends.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com