Joan Marie Hohenforst, 86, also known as "Joanne" and "HoHo", returned peacefully to heaven to live forever with Jesus on 12/29/19. Joan was born on May 18, 1933 in Johnstown, NY and graduated Johnstown High School in 1951. After graduating, Joan was employed as a switchboard operator at the local phone company. She then pursued a business degree at Albany College, attended Bert Rodgers School of Real Estate and The Graduate Realtors Institute. She was married to Emanuel Mezzano of Johnstown and to Raymond Hohenforst, Jr. of Gloversville, NY.

In 1964, the family moved to St. Petersburg, FL and Joanne continued her real estate sales career at Orange State Realty and Marie Powell & Associates. In 1974, Joanne opened and managed Corner of the World Realty, Inc. In 1979, she became Owner/Broker/Manager of Joanne & Associates, Inc. She served on the St. Petersburg Board of Directors, Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Realtors and the Board of Directors for Sales and Marketing Executives. One of her greatest passions was people and she considered everyone she met a "newfound" friend. She made friends wherever she went and kept in touch with them all. Her focus was always on the positive and she frequently encouraged others with a kind word, a ready smile or a friendly hug.

Upon retiring from real estate, Joanne opened and managed three thrift stores in St. Petersburg: Hospice of Florida Suncoast (1993-96), Pathways Community Church (1998-2000), and Pinellas Village (2000-2002). She dearly loved her life of working alongside of so many wonderful volunteers who shared her joy of helping the organizations provide for people in need.

Joanne was a devoted member of the Indian Rocks Baptist Church, Pathways Community Church, Seminole, Church by the Sea, Madeira Beach, and St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Johnstown, NY. She embraced each church with God's love in her heart and lent a hand wherever and whenever the need arose.

Another one of her exciting ventures was to start a social club where single people could meet others. She named it "Business & Professional Singles" and hosted monthly parties, events and outings for everyone's enjoyment.

Joanne loved to write poetry, short stories and articles. She enjoyed traveling and cruises. She spent her free time riding in her many convertibles to bask in the sun at New York lakes and Florida beaches or looking for that "deal" at garage sales. She had a very green thumb and her flowers and plants flourished from her care. Joanne loved music and delighted in singing and dancing whenever the spirit moved her.

HoHo especially loved Christmas and each year she would fill the house with her amazing Christmas decorations, energy and magic. She would spend countless days and nights making unique personalized homemade gifts for everyone that were sure to bring a smile, a laugh or a sentimental tear.

Joanne was a loving daughter, amazing woman, friend, wife, mother and grandmother. She instilled the importance of a hug and how you never walk away without telling the ones you love how much you love them. She will be missed by everyone whose life she touched.

She was preceded in death by her father Frank Whalen, mother Anna M. Whalen, sisters Dorothy Jannotti and Frances Alisindrelli, all from Newburg, NY.

She is survived by her children, Linda (Thomas) Tarulli, Carson City, NV; Charlie Mezzano, Seminole, FL; Lori (Glenn) Greer, Palm Harbor, FL; 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She cherished her family and felt very blessed indeed.

A Celebration of Life for Joanne will held January 19, 2020 at 1:30 pm at Church by the Sea, 495 137th Avenue Circle, Madeira Beach, FL 33708 .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, 14010 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater FL 33762 and Empath Health Suncoast Hospice 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760. www.suncoasthospicefoundations.org/ways-to-give or just do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone less fortunate in her memory.