Mary J Deal's Obituary
Tampa — Mary Josephine “Jo” Deal , a long-time resident of the Tampa Bay area, died Tuesday the 8th of August 2017 at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Born in 1933 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Jo received a Nursing Degree from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing, Youngstown, OH in 1954.
She met her husband George (Chucher) at Robison grade school in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania and neither one of them ever had eyes for anyone else. They married in 1955 and moved to Tampa in 1963 where they worked hard and raised three children.
Jo began working at St. Joseph’s Hospital when her youngest child started school and she worked there in various positions for 27 years. She started as a float nurse – working on whatever floor needed her assistance, then as a teacher in Staff Development, training nurses new to St. Joseph’s Hospital as well as keeping long term employees current on new procedures and equipment. Jo finally ended her career in Utilization Review working to ensure quality control over patient billing. She retired from St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1994.
Jo loved dancing and she and her husband took ballroom dancing lessons together for many years. After retiring she was more able to indulge her love of dancing, as well as her love of traveling and of course spoiling her beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her Yorkshire Terrier - Brandy.
Jo had a wonderful smile that could light up a room and a heart so big it’s warmth spilled over onto everyone she met (unless you criticized her children or grandchildren – then watch out).
She is survived by her husband of 62 years (George), son Tom (Jeanne), daughters Susan Wood and Janet Zambito. Her grandchildren Stephanie Bass (Johnny), Joseph Zambito (Maricell), Jenna Zambito, Philippa Wood, Jaime Wood, Jr. (Kimberly), Robert Gamble (Katrina), Jamie Lampropoulos (Petros) and great grandchildren Delaynie Bass, Peyton Bass, Wyatt Gamble and Leo Lampropoulos were the lights of her life and all of them adored their “Nana”.
Jo is also survived by her sister Martha Zenuch (Rick) and several nieces, nephews and great-nephews.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and especially by those who loved her.
Flowers will be accepted for the Visitation at Trinity Memorial Gardens or memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org.
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