Joan M. Canuso (Colozzi) Service Information

Joan M. Canuso, beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed away on May 27, 2024, at her Holland, PA home surrounded by her adoring family. She was 91 years old.

Born in South Philadelphia, Joan was the daughter of the late Michael Colozzi Jr. and Rose Portella Colozzi, and sister to the late Kathleen Fidelibus.  She was a proud graduate of Philadelphia’s Girls High School, Class of 1951.  Joan attended the University of Pennsylvania for a time where a chance encounter with a classmate on a trolley ride home after a football game would lead to 71 years of marriage, 8 children, 30 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren with F. Anthony “Tony” Canuso.

Joan and Tony were founding parishioners of St. Bede the Venerable Parish and active in many of the parish organizations.  Joan was especially known for the magnificent gift baskets she made for The AJ Foundation For Children With Autism charity functions, St Bede’s Auctions, the parish picnic, and the Padre Pio Festival. She was also a supporter of Holy Redeemer Hospital and was a major part of the renovation of St. Bede’s Church.

While Joan enjoyed traveling, skiing, tennis, and shopping (because she always had to be fashionable!), nothing was more important to her than her family. She loved her husband, Tony, fiercely and the two of them were always sneaking kisses when no one was looking (and when everyone was looking). Joan took such great care of her children and raised them into loving men and women of faith. No matter how old they got or how far from the nest they flew, Joan’s children could always count on her love, compassion, and counsel.  

Joan was a true Italian-American matriarch who could whip up a three course meal without a recipe using only the contents in her fridge and herb garden.  Her meatballs were the stuff of legends and a legacy carried on by future generations.  Joan cackled and snorted when she laughed, a trait she passed on to all of her daughters, and she was fiercely vigilant with the health and safety of her grandchildren; for they were her pride and joy after all.  Joan was quick to hand you a mackinaw if you were cold, offer to open up the pool if you were hot, or snuggle with you on the couch and watch the Wizard of Oz if you wanted to rest.  Her big heart, joyful spirit, and contagious smile will be missed by all. 

In addition to her beloved husband, she was the dearest mother of F. Anthony Canuso Jr. (Lisa), Linda Gartner (John), Maria Ebrahim (Kurt), Helen Clint (Brian), Rosanne Housman (Richard), Joanne Corless (Allan), Michele Meyer (Michael), and Joseph Canuso (Angela). Joan is also survived by legions of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewings on Friday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Road (at Holland Road.), Richboro and on Saturday morning at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Road from 10:00 am until Words of Remembrances at 11:20am followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30am. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Richboro. 

Contributions in Joan’s memory can be made to The A J Foundation For Children With Autism, P.O. Box 234 Wycombe, PA 18980 or St Bede the Venerable Church at the above address.

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