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WARREN -- Joan J. Stoshak, 88, of Warren, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2026.
"If you're reading this, it means I've finally moved on, and no, I'm not gonna argue about it.
"So the details… I was born on July 13, 1938, in Sugar Notch, Pa. I was part of the "Silent Generation," but anybody who knew me knew I was anything but silent. I never spent a single day beating around the bush. I said what I thought, I meant every word of it, and I spoke loudly enough to make sure nobody needed a hearing aid.
"While I never had kids of my own, don't let that fool you. I raised, bossed around, and doted on a whole army of nieces and nephews who knew better than to question me. When I told you to do something, you did it if you knew what was good for you! It might have sounded harsh to an outsider, but every single order I barked came straight from the heart. Taking care of my family was my life's work, and I took that job very seriously. You were loved, you were fed, and you were kept in line.
"At 21, I went to Warren, Ohio, to become a godparent to a niece. The day after I got into town, my brother, Joe, told me to apply for a job I didn't even want, at General Electric. Well, wouldn't you know it, I ended up acing the entrance test and they put me to work the next day.
"It didn't take long for me to start quietly fixing the machines the men were struggling with, against my boss's orders, naturally. But, seeing as I was right, my boss finally made me take the exam to become an official mechanic. Equal rights for women had only just passed, so a woman even 'applying' for the job was unheard of.
"I sat down with six men to take that practical test. A couple of minutes later, I stood up, turned it in and walked out, leaving those poor guys sitting there completely confused and eating my dust, having one of the highest scores they've had for that position.
"I became the very first female mechanic in that factory and, let's be honest, I was by far one of the best. I would just be coming home from drinking all night and my boss would call and beg me to come in. I'd tell him straight up, "You know I'm still drunk, right?" And he'd say, "Yeah, but you're that good and we need you." So I'd go in, half-lit, and still do the job better and faster than anyone else on the floor.
"I loved that job with everything I had. I worked at G.E. for 29 years, and if it wasn't for that damn knee replacement forcing me to retire, I would've stayed on that factory floor until the day I died.
"Out of everything I built and accomplished, one of my favorite parts of my life was my partner in crime, Marjorie Dunkerton. Back when we first got together, people didn't know what to make of two single women buying a house and building a life together, but we didn't give a damn. Margie and I loved each other, plain and simple, and we shared over 60 incredible years side by side, right along with our spoiled teacup poodles we've had over the decades: Monique, Precious, another Precious, and finally Princess, who was the absolute best of the bunch. We loved those little dogs like our own children.
When Margie passed away, a part of me went with her. But if there's any comfort in me leaving this world, it's knowing I'm finally back with my Margie, our little pups, and all of our loved ones.
Now, if there was one thing I loved to do, it was gambling. For decades, I'd head down to Atlantic City with my friends and family as often as once a month just to drink, gamble and make wild memories.
And then there was the time I was sitting at a blackjack table for hours, shooting the breeze with some guy wearing sunglasses. After a while, I looked at him real close, leaned in and asked, "Are you…?" He just nodded, winked and went, "Shhh." I knew who he was, so I kept playing, making him laugh and drinking together. When he finally got up to leave, he shook my hand, thanked me for a great time and told me how much he enjoyed my humor. I'd just spent the whole time playing cards with Neil Diamond after his show that night. Just another day in the life!
I lived my life exactly the way I wanted to - on my own terms. I had a solid dose of that classic Polish stubbornness; if I set my mind to something, I got it, no matter what stood in my way.
But as tough as I could be, I cared deeply for everything I had, because taking care of things is what makes them last. And that goes double for relationships. To my whole tribe of nieces and nephews that I'm survived by, if I taught you anything, let it be this: take care of your family and your loved ones, and they will take care of you. Don't you dare take each other for granted. If you love someone, nurse that relationship and work at it, and it will last forever.
"And whatever you do…never go to bed angry.
"I've had a hell of a run and wouldn't have had it any other way. So try to keep each other in line, take care of one another, and don't spend too much time crying over me. There's no more of that rotten knee and back pain where I'm at. I can watch all my Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Cavaliers I want, and my teams always win. The machines here don't need to be repaired, and best of all, there's so many games of cards and dominoes that I have to win.
"Oh! The most exciting was reuniting with all my family that passed before me! My amazing parents, Andrew and Julia (Morris) Stoshak, welcomed me first with the biggest hug. Then all my siblings, Marie Stoshak, Anna (Stoshak) Yatko, William "Willie" Stoshak, Andrew "Bud" Stoshak, Joe "Flea" Stoshak, and Francis "Frank/Babs" Stoshak.
"And what a joy it was to see my beloved nieces and nephews that went before me, Marie Elena "Rayna" Spinucci, Walter "Yippy" Yatko, Becky Johnson, Angela Stoshak, and William "Billy" Stoshak.
"There's not going to be any visitations or services, so don't worry about any of that. Don't waste your money on flowers for me, either. I'll be laid to rest with Margie in Brownwood Cemetery, North Bloomfield, if you want to visit."
Arrangements are entrusted to the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road NE, Warren, OH 44483. Dedicated to serving your loved ones. This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.
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