Joann Melman, 78, of Plains Township, has been welcomed home into the arms of our Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 18,2024, while in the comforting care of Tiffany Court, Kingston and Residential Hospice.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on August 20, 1945, she was the only child of the late Joseph and Anna Balent Boniewicz. Joann grew up in the Plains area and attended local schools. She was a graduate of the Plains Memorial High School, class of 1963. She continued her education at the Perella Beauty School where she studied to become a hairdresser. She also attended the Wilkes-Barre Business College where she graduated with a degree in secretarial studies.

Joann was employed by the Social Security Administration of Wilkes-Barre for over twenty-four years where she worked in customer service and data processing until she retired in August 2006.

On November 5, 1966, Joann married Andrew Melman and the new couple moved to the Hudson section of Plains. Together the couple raised one daughter, Andrea.

Mrs. Melman was not just a mother to her daughter but to Andrea’s friends as well. Joann was their savior on multiple occasions when "things hit the fan".

Joann was a social butterfly who enjoyed going out with her Red Hat group of ladies every month for lunch and special holiday get-togethers. She was known for her great outfits, almost always with a hint of leopard print. She also enjoyed going on trips with her friends to a variety of destinations. Joann loved life and was very involved with the planning and aided in the completion of projects for Saints Peter and Paul Church, where she was an active member of the choir, Women’s Club, quilting group, and volunteering at the Saint Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen. She was a familiar face of the church food-making fundraisers of pierogies, piggies, and paczki. Joann also volunteered at many of the church bingos and the Giving Tree Project at Christmastime. She was a competitor and fighter to the very end. She was the greatest supporter of her daughter Andrea who helped to raise money by running to generate donations for the Parkinson's Foundation. In her last days, Joann was attended to her final care by her daughter, friends, family, and the caring team of Tiffany Court and Residential Hospice.

Joann is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years, Andrew; daughter Andrea and her fiancé Christopher Stone, Exeter; her in-laws Joseph Melman and his wife Dolores, Laflin; sister-in-law Camille Glazenski, and the late Frank Glazenski, Hudson; and her three nephews John, Steven, and her godson Jim.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation to be held on Tuesday, January 23, from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., 55 Stark Street, Plains. A visitation will also be held at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, on Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Mass will be officiated by Rev. John C. Lambert, pastor.

In lieu of flowers, Joann wished that memorial donations would be given to the Saints Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, 39 Jackson St. Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701, or to the Parkinson Foundation,200 SE 1st Street Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.