Joan Novelli passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on May 9th, her bedside attended by the staff at Nathaniel Witherell. On Mother’s Day she had thoroughly enjoyed attending a musical performance at the residence, visits with friends, and gifts of flowers and fresh fruit. It was a great day.
Born in Mount Vernon to Angelo Novelli and Enrichetta DiLorenza, Joan had wonderful memories of her childhood. What her parents lacked in resources as recent Italian immigrants was more than compensated by creating a home filled with love, laughter, friendship, delicious food, flowers and beloved pets. Joan attended the College of New Rochelle and Columbia University and worked in business and medical administration, later putting her career aside to care for both parents as they fell ill.
A single child and always a vibrant and independent spirit, teenage Joan expressed her wish to obtain a license. Her dad, very protective and not at all on board with the idea, said she could, but only if she obtained a Chauffeur License (assuming she would never pass the test). She did, he gave her the car, and she took it a step further. Taking a job in far away Elmsford, Joan would drive passengers going her way and charge them for each trip, the logic being the car and gas would be paid for in no time. She may have been the nation’s first Lyft driver.
She was thrilled to have lived at Agnes Morley among her many friends; her petite silver-capped frame could be seen zooming behind a shopping cart along Milbank Avenue in all types of weather. She loved attending lunches and outings at the Senior Center. To the end, she expressed wonderment and appreciation at her good fortune to have spent the last several years at Nathaniel Witherell.
Joan had a generosity of spirit, a saucy and sharp sense of humor and an amazing capacity for optimism which was an inspiration to so many. Many thanks to Yvonne, Shirley, Karen, Gerard and Mona at Agnes Morley; to the angels of Nathaniel Witherell for providing such wonderful care, the D’Autilo family for their many kindnesses, and especially to Mike Rinaldi, who filled Joan’s heart with music and made her feel so very special.
Services will be private.
