Joann P. Skoropowski

Joann Theresia Pinard Skoropowski, 81, of Peabody, MA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Friday, May 8th, 2026.

Born at Fort Riley Army base in Junction City, Kansas, to Leo W. Pinard and Winefred Paulus Pinard. Joann grew up in many places across the country and attended Holy Trinity High School in Westfield, NJ. She graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. While attending Catholic University, she met the love of her life, Eugene “Gene” K. Skoropowski. They married on June 10, 1967, in Westfield, NJ, and later settled and started their family in Melrose, MA, where Joann volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader, was an original member of the Victorian Melrose Society, and worked as a registered nurse at the Melrose-Wakefield Memorial Hospital.

She built her career in nursing serving as a Registered Nurse at multiple hospitals and medical facilities in the Boston and Philadelphia areas. Joann was known for her vivid style, infectious laugh, and generosity. She volunteered for Meals-On-Wheels in both Orlando, FL, and Dublin, CA, and loved visiting and bringing joy to folks who were homebound.

Joann loved various types of handwork – from sewing to knitting, needle work to crocheting and quilting – but her favorite was English hand smocking. She made various outfits for her grandchildren and Christmas ornaments over the years. She was a featured artist at Lydia’s Guild in both Pennsylvania and California. While in Pennsylvania, Joann was part of The Liberty Belles – a group of women who loved doing various handwork projects and socializing. Annamarie, Anne, Ellen, and Lee became wonderful, life-long friends who shared special girls trips to Key West, FL.

Joann’s love of lemons and raspberries was famous. She attempted to grow both a lemon tree and garden of raspberries with limited success. However, many summers at the cottage in Rindge, NH, were filled with days picking raspberries filling up multiple pallets to make homemade raspberry pies! She was also famous for her chex mix – a staple at the many parties she and Gene (and her daughters!) threw. Several special people often received “mystery packages” from Joann containing her famous treat. She was also known to send her own In-N-Out Burger trash remnants in the mail to make the recipient laugh (and maybe a little jealous too). That was just Joann’s way – sending a note, package, or message just because. It brought her great joy to brighten other people’s lives.

Always an avid reader, Joann particularly like mysteries and “who-done-it” books and later enjoyed historical novels. She never traveled anywhere without one – on a plane, train or automobile – even if she was sitting in traffic on the 405!

Joann filled every room with joy when she entered. Her laughter, and famous “coma laugh” was contagious. When she started “the laugh” there was no stopping her and those around her! Many times these moments turned into full-fledged chaos and the reason for the laugh was often forgotten as her laugh itself was simply enough to make others join in.

She was the life of the party and loved any excuse to get glammed up. Formal evenings with Gene, celebrating an anniversary or birthday, attending an opera (ok, she might not have enjoyed that one!), weddings, Victorian Melrose Society socials, and Oscars or Kentucky Derby parties. Hats and accessories were part of her signature style and were always a hit. Halloween was also a favorite holiday – she loved often theming her costumes to her grandkids or husband – and of course the candy! Joann loved her chocolate!

Many memories were shared with family in friends over the years. CUA Geezer Golf weekends, skiing with the Gorski’s (the actual skiing ranked up there with the opera), a bowling league and sewing group in Dublin, CA. Joann enjoyed several European trips joining the Kukura’s, visiting with Swiss exchange student, Marie-Helene, and visiting Poland with the Gorski’s. Dinners with Ruth and Vinny, cards with Brew and Linda and cross-country train rides were treasured moments of Joann.

Above all, Joann cherished her family. She was always up for an adventure – whether that was traveling the world with her husband, driving across the country with one of her daughters, or going on roller coasters at Hershey Park, Great Adventure or Universal Studios with her daughters and their friends. Joann never said no when asked to play a board game, cards, wiffle ball, or a puzzle when her grandkids asked. She treasured every moment with them. Joann also played a critical role in the birth of all of her grandkids – offering her “services” for 3-months to help the new families adjust. Riding around in her red convertible listening to Elvis was a favorite pastime – and having one of her grandchildren in tow was a bonus!

When it came to determine where Gene and Joann were going to finally reside, outside Boston was the obvious choice. Joann always felt this area was her home, and with 2 daughters, a son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren in short driving distance, there was no question. Family vacations refocused from Yosemite/Wawona, CA, to the New England area – spending time at the Cape, Nantucket and more recently she enjoyed staying in York Beach, ME, with her entire family. People watching from the front porch Adirondack chairs was one of her favorite past-times – as was nightly games of Yahtzee, Shanghai and Rummikub.

She is survived by her spouse, Eugene “Gene” K. Skoropowski; daughters Jeannette Skoropowski of Boston, Julie Petersen of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, and June Skuza (Joseph Skuza) of Rowley, MA; grandchildren, Nick, Sammy, Charlie, and Will; siblings, Marianne Blake, Leo Pinard II, and Claire Lea.

Visiting hours are on Monday May 11, from 4pm to 7pm at CR Lyons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm Street, Danvers. A Celebration of Life Mass at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant Street, Danvers at 11 am on Tuesday May 12. Cremation and burial will be private at a later date. Reception after the Mass at Polcari’s Restaurant, 92 Broadway, Saugus (US Route 1, Northbound), a favorite place of Joann.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 or Covenant House, 30 Washington Street, Boston MA 02135.  To share a message of sympathy with Joann, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.

To view the livestream of Joann’s service, go to https://streamography.com/pages/5-11-26-joann-p-skoropowski