Joanne Smaldino, 72, of Youngstown, Ohio, lost her 15-year battle with heart disease Tuesday. She went peacefully at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, where she was born Aug. 27, 1937, with her family and friends at her side.

She was raised by her parents, the late Mary Bassetti Tavolario and Vincent Tavolario, on the east side of Youngstown. She graduated from East High School in 1955, where she was the head majorette for two years. After graduation, she worked at Ohio Bell as an operator.

She married her junior high sweetheart, Anthony Smaldino Sr., on May 10, 1958. He grew up on the "other end" of the same street Joanne lived on, Bennington Avenue.

She was a stay-at-home mom and raised four children. The eldest is Dr. Tony Smaldino of Butler, who was followed by Chris McQuown, Gina Chiaro and Maria Spencer, all of Poland, Ohio.

Joanne had a special quality of making her home your home. She was a great cook and an incredible entertainer. Whether it was Christmas Day, Sunday afternoon or any other special occasion, everyone wanted to be at the Smaldino household. She made people laugh whether she was playing, and winning, a card game or cheering for her favorite NFL team on the television. Most importantly, her compassion and love for everyone she encountered was second to none.

Once her children all graduated from high school, Joanne and her husband took advantage of their special cooking talents and bought Sunrise Deli and Catering in 1982. For the next 25 years, her hospitality and "special Italian touch" extended into nearly every home in the Mahoning Valley. Her husband would be the first to admit that her ability to make everyone feel so special had a great deal to do with their incredible success.

She is survived by three siblings, Mary Lou Cambert of Columbus, Ohio, Dr. James Tavolario of Youngstown and Vince Tavolario of Butler.

Butler has been a second home to Joanne since her brother, Vince, married Jean Natili in 1968, and even more so when her son, Dr. Tony Smaldino and his wife, Karen Wladika Smaldino, started a family here in 1987.

Joanne's 10 grandchildren were her most cherished possessions. They are Alyssa, Jenna, Anthony III and Dominique Smaldino, all of Butler, and Jarrod and Jason McQuown, Marissa and Tony Chiaro and Jonah and Olivia Spencer, all of Poland, Ohio.

Also surviving her are three sons-in-law of Poland, Ohio, Jerrod McQuown, Dr. John Chiaro and Michael Spencer. She has 13 nieces and nephews as well as numerous life-long friends who will desperately miss her.

<B>SMALDINO</B> — Friends of Joanne Smaldino, who died Tuesday, May 18, 2010, will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at <B>Higgins-Reardon funeral home</B>, 2726 Center Road, Poland, Ohio 44514. There will be a Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church with a reception to follow.