Joann Louise Cerreta

Joann Louise (Gyomber) Cerreta passed away peacefully on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 74 years and 32 days of age. Joann was born in Youngstown, Ohio on February 8, 1942 to Ann and Joseph Gyomber. She moved with her family to southern California in 1947 where she attended St. Lucy’s Catholic Elementary School and graduated from St. Anthony’s Catholic High School in 1960. Joann went on to pursue her nursing degree at Mercy College of Nursing and graduated in 1963. She was then united in marriage to Michael D. Cerreta, Jr. on August 10, 1963. They had eight children together between 1964 and 1977. As the wife of a Marine Officer, Joann worked tirelessly; staying home to raise eight children many times alone for great lengths of time. She was a gracious hostess for many necessary engagements related to her dedication to her husband and in service to her country. Those that met her knew her to be a kind, friendly, and lovely woman. Joann went on to obtain her real estate license in 1990 and practiced real estate for the next five years. Joann will be remembered with immense gratitude by her family for her many years of homemade meals three times a day, for providing a clean and beautiful home wherever our large family was stationed over the years, and as a caregiver for her mother, husband, children, and many animals (especially birds). She will be most lovingly treasured for her fun-loving nature, her contagious giggle, and her big bright smile that lit up any room that she entered. Left to honor her life are her husband, Mike, her 8 children, Michele Cerreta, Michael (Rena) Cerreta, Joanna (Max) Carey, Stacie (Bart) Franta, David Cerreta, Cathie (Craig) Fravel, Daniel (Katie) Cerreta, and James Cerreta. Her sister Georgia Yeats, and brother Joe (Rita) Gyomber, her 13 grandchildren: Antonio and Alex, Nicolas, Anthony, Zachary, John Marc, Sarah, Ireland, Josephine, Lucia, Georgia, Michael Paul and Beatrice, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ann and Joe Gyomber, and brother, Jimmy as well as several aunts and uncles. A public viewing will be held at Pierce Funeral Home at 9609 Center St. in Manassas, Virginia on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and a Requiem High Mass will be held at St. Anthanasius Roman Catholic Church on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at 9201 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery. Any condolences or expressions of sympathy may be sent to Pierce Funeral Home at 9609 Center St. in Manassas, Virginia (703) 257-6028 (www.piercefh.com). May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Joann Louise Cerreta

February 8, 1942 - March 11, 2016