Joan (Stephano) Nelson

IMPORTANT NOTICE: LOCATION CHANGE FOR FRIDAY 5 - 8 pm VISITATION:   Joan's visitation will be held at the BORON FUNERAL HOME, next door to the St. Basil Church.

Joan (Stephano) Nelson

of the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh, was born June 17,1931, to the late Ted and Elizabeth (Biernacki) Stephano in Mt. Oliver Boro above Ted’s Lunch at what is now the little parklet on Brownsville Road. Joan passed away peacefully at home at the age of 92 on April 6, 2024 among her family.  Predeceased by husband John (Jack) Nelson and siblings Catherine, Andrew (Doris) and Anthony Stephano as well as her beloved grandson Johnny.  Loving mother of Bette, Patty, Ted, Jim (late Patti); Ed (Anne-Marie), Bob (Michele) Nelson and Cathy (Jim) Schultz.  Proud grandmother of Dan, Doctor Cassie, Alex, Melissa, Brandon, and Trevor Nelson and twins Corey &Tyler Boltzhauser. 

A 1949 graduate of Brentwood High School, she went on to leave a legacy of volunteerism to her children & grandchildren. She was elected to join the Brentwood High School Hall of Fame Class of 2005 for over 46 years of volunteering for a variety of organizations.  Most notable was for over 35 years of working with the Boy Scouts of America on council & district committees; serving as scoutmaster; attending advanced training at Philmont Ranch in New Mexico; completing the rigorous Woodbadge training; and earning various local/district/council awards including the prestigious Silver Beaver in 1981. Joan also served over 11 years as a registered Girl Scout leader. 

A by-the-book leader, her 4 sons & 1 grandson earned their Eagle Scout Awards & her 3 daughters earned their First Class Award in-spite of her participation! She was also active in various school & parish organizations at St Canice and St John Vianney Parishes on the Hilltop. She championed the senior citizen population in the Mt. Oliver/Knoxville area by serving on the Board of Directors at the Elderado when it merged into Lifespan operations where she continued to serve on the board for an additional 6 years. 

Volunteering was not Joan's only passion.  She loved to travel.  She hiked the parts of the Appalachian Trail with her sons while in scouting. She had managed to travel to all 50 states including Alaska twice; all Canadian Provinces; the Arctic Circle; all Caribbean countries with the exception of Cuba; Mexico & a land trip of 12 Italian Cities.  Along the way, she collected & was gifted owl statutes (her Woodbadge Totem) growing in number to over 300 at the time of her passing.

Her favorite trip was a cruise with several family members to the Mediterranean countries of Spain; France; Monaco; Italy; Turkey & Greece to celebrate her 79th birthday. Always with family first in mind, holidays, birthdays & Tuesday night dinners at Mom's were always on the calendar.  The beginning of the pandemic in 2020 was the first time she was unable to live her active lifestyle.  Even during the height of the pandemic, ZOOM holidays replaced the family meals until it was safe to break bread together in person. Due to her advanced age & some residual health issues, she never fully recovered from a bout with COVID in the fall of 2023. 

A celebration of her life will be held at BORON FUNERAL HOME, 1719 Brownsville Road, Carrick, on Friday, April 19th from 5 to 8 pm.  A funeral mass will be held Saturday, April 20th at 10:30 AM at St Basil Church, Blessed Trinity Parish (Everyone Please Meet at Church) with burial in St John Vianney John Vianney Cemetery following the mass.

Joan requests no flowers but would appreciate donations being made to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank or Animal Friends in her name. She was known to often sent in anonymous cash donations on owl stationery to support these two organizations.

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