Joan H. Squeri

Squeri
Joan Helene (Nee: Butler) died peacefully on January 26, 2019 lovingly surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents John and Ann (Dellacave) Butler, her dear brother Tony Butler, her beloved sister-in-law Mary Butler, her dearest Aunts Dora and Dee, and her dear friend Gloria. Cherished Mother of Elizabeth (David) Kroth, Joe (Pepe) Squeri, Chuck (Sue) Squeri, John (Tess) Squeri, Fred (Anita) Squeri, Sally/Sarah Squeri. Loving Grandmother of David-John (Melody) Kroth, Racheal Kroth, Natalie Kroth, Stephanie Kroth, Brooke (Josh) Squeri-Williams, Joey (Drew) Squeri-Simri, Elizabeth Squeri, Oliver Squeri, Charles (Melissa) Squeri, Nina Squeri, Christopher Squeri, Christy (Chad)Squeri-Curtin, Brittany (Vincent) Davis-DeRisi, Scott Davis, Sophia Squeri, Sam Squeri, Maria (Tristan) Squeri-Hummel, Micheal Squeri, Tony Squeri, Regina Squeri, Freddy (Allison) Squeri, Nick Squeri, Samantha Squeri. Dearest Great Grandmother of Kohen Kroth, Cecilia Kroth, Gianna Kroth, Kalvin Kroth, Luciana Metcalfe, Dominic Williams, Eliza Williams, Jason Davis, Olivia DeRisi, Ava DeRisi, Vincent DeRisi Jr, Gabriella Curtin, William Curtin, Robin Hummel. Joan was born in Cincinnati in 1933 and by1936 she was studying drama and dancing at Schuster-Martin Drama School. At the age of 5 she was taking the bus to classes and modeling. She won numerous acting and dancing awards throughout grade school and high school. She was in many plays and dance recitals throughout her younger life. She performed w Bob Braun on the Ruth Lyons show at ages 17, 18, 19. She also modeled for Pogues, a by-gone high-end department store downtown next to the Netherland Hilton. She was accepted as a Rockette in NYC/Rockefeller Center but decided not to go (at the disappointment of her mother) because she didn't want that kind of life. She wanted a family and children. She worked at a downtown bank as the president’s secretary, and continued to model. She made more money for fittings and modeling 1 day a week than 5 days at the bank, but loved the ‘normal’ life. After marriage and becoming a mother, she LOVED to celebrate and every holiday and birthday and made it an event. She made you and everyone feel so special. Every special occasion was a perfectly detailed celebration. All were included and made to feel welcome. She was president of St Mary’s Hospital fund-raising for a number of years, a brownie leader, a girl scout leader, taught CCD at St Antoninus and worked w the youth group at St Antoninus. She loved St Antoninus and was the first woman on the church council. She went back to school at Mount Saint Joseph, and then graduated from the seminary in Religious studies. She loved Broadway plays of all kinds, and would take all of her children to performances downtown and up in Mount Adams. Her love for theater was throughout her life. She choreographed and organized a multitude of high school youth club broadway plays and performances with teens from all over Cincinnati. They were so successful because she brought in community theater directors, producers, and orchestras to do the plays with the teens. This collaboration made for sold out crowds weeks in advance. It was so important for her that the teens grow a love for theater as she had, so she made a place for everyone in performances like South Pacific where she had 80 teens at a time, on stage, in song and dance numbers. She was really phenomenal. Some of her plays were Bye Bye Birdie, South Pacific, Carousel, Showboat, Guys n Dolls, Hello Dolly, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Music Man, Oliver!, Westside Story…
She organized the lecturers for a number of years for Saturday and Sunday Mass at St Antoninus and was a Sunday lecturer up until year and a half. She loved this and you would often hear people say how much they enjoyed listening to her. Mid-life she started The Reach Center which taught Apples of Gold listening skills to parishes all over Cincinnati, Massachusetts, New Orleans. Many trips especially to New Orleans, her and Fr. Vincent developed a wonderful community where people traveled from all over to be a part the seminars. She had a team of people that travelled with her and at Reach’s seminars they broke into small groups and laughed and prayed and healed together. So beautiful. She organized this and was the lead teacher. Her team was incredible! People were drawn to her passion and love of the material and her teachings [or should I say performances!] were infectious with her love of life. After this, she spent several years taking care of her Aunt Dee, Aunt Dora, and her mother (the Dellacave sisters) until their passing. After Grandma Annie’s (her mother's) passing, she redesigned and landscaped her mothers home into her new home, where she always said she wanted to live out the rest of her life. She would say, ”I want to be close to my Mom and Dad and Tony and Mary. They are all there”. "And I want the light", she would say, "The sun rises and sets and I get to see it everyday.” She loved Turner Classic Movies and watched them nonstop. Ever the teacher, she taught her college caregivers about old movies the last year of her life. She loved chocolates and fresh flowers, and they were always in her house for everyone to enjoy! She loved cards from her family and friends, small extravagances, little treasures, games and fun little things. She was a child at heart. She absolutely loved Christmas! and loved fun! She was passionate and excited about life and got you excited too. She was a great teacher because she loved and believed whatever it was she was teaching, whether that be choreographing teenagers for plays, teaching Apples of Gold, reading for Mass, or sharing her wisdom and faith. Her passion came through. She loved instructing and performing her lessons. She was determined, and when she made up her mind that was it. She was generous and exuberant in everything! Whether it was cooking, gifting, teaching, coaching. Everything was done with gusto. She loved to be delighted! And took joy in a gift you brought her, in your success, your happy moment, your trials, she shared in them as if she were there walking with you personally. She truly was magical, creative, generous, driven, unstoppable, and filled w a love of life. And she wanted you to be filled too! Her legacy will be continued with those she loved and treasured; her 6 children, her 23 grandchildren and their spouses and partners, her 14 great grandchildren, and anyone who she met personally. She has given us a treasure trove and heritage of Family, Faith, Friendships, and wonderful gatherings . Here was a woman who loved deeply, gave generously, smiled exuberantly, and prayed unceasingly. She will forever be in our hearts, she will be greatly missed. One of her favorite scriptures: “In Him is my source of strength, and with that strength I can do everything.” Phil 4:13
Visitation will be Saturday February 2nd from 9am to 10am at St. Antoninus, 1500 Linneman Rd, 45238. Christian burial mass will follow the visitation at 10am.
If so desired, memorials may be made to the St. Antoninus Rosary Alter Society

Tributes & Condolences

Posted by David Ulmer on January 30, 2019 (04:09)
Sorry to hear about Mrs. Squeri. What a phenomenal life. Your mom always made me laugh along with a huge hug. Such a loving and wonderful person. I’ll never forget the great times I had at your house as a kid. Building that great camp. Learning how to swim (b/c John and Fred threw me in your pool). Your mom making me sandwiches. Etc. I will miss her!!! Love and prayers.

Posted by Susan Torbeck on January 29, 2019 (22:50)
Mrs Squeri was the best of the best. So many fun memories. May you enjoy all the memories of your Mom as much as the Ulmer's all did. Rest in peace. Heaven has another great Angel. May you have a blast in heaven with my Mom and Dad.

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