Obituary of Joann Marcell Tutalo

Joann Marcell Tutalo (Dunne) of West Orange, NJ, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2024 at the age of 82. Joann was born on September 3,1942 in Orange and lived there until her marriage in 1962 to the late Leonard Tutalo. They then made their home in West Orange, where they raised their three children.

Joann was a homemaker as well as the owner of Joann’s Ceramics in West Orange, and later worked for the Montclair Board of Education, retiring in 2007. She was a proud member of the West Orange Elks Ladies Auxiliary for many years and was named Lady of the Year several times, as well as Citizen of the Year for her tireless efforts. She also created and regularly maintained their award winning monthly bulletin. The charitable work and lifelong friendships she made at the Elks brought her great happiness and fulfillment.

Joann is remembered as a creator by those who love her. She expressed herself through many mediums and her creativity knew no bounds, but she especially loved to paint. She was always working on many projects at once, and her morning ritual was coffee and painting. She instilled her creative spirit in her children, who passed it on to their own families. 

Joann was also a lover of nature, from the beach to her own backyard. She could often be found in her garden, where she grew flowers and vegetables and enjoyed watching birds and other wildlife. She would collect seeds in the fall to start planting indoors over winter, so they'd be ready to bring outside in the spring. Her green thumb always resulted in an abundance of cucumbers and tomatoes to be shared with those she loved. Everyone looked forward to her homemade pickles. Her hobbies truly embodied who she was as a person, creating something beautiful and sharing those things with others. 

Joann is survived by her three children and their families: Kenneth and his wife Michele, Laura D’Amato and her husband Raymond, and Michael and his wife Mary. She was the proud grandmother of Christopher (Elle), Marisa, Cassandra (Jonathan), Rachel, Michael (Dana), Julia, and James, and great grandmother of Enzo and Brooke. She also leaves behind her sister-in-law Sandy, treasured nieces Kim and Tracey, cousins, and beloved friends. 

Visiting for Joann will be held on Sunday January 5, 2025 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main St. in West Orange

A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday January6, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave. in West Orange.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s Children Hospital, or the charity of your choice.