JoAnn Dato, 80, of Blairstown, NJ, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026.
JoAnn was born on November 7, 1945, to Gerald and Josephine Villani. She pursued her passion for education by earning a master’s degree and dedicating her career to teaching as an elementary school teacher at Knowlton Elementary School. Throughout her years in the classroom, JoAnn touched the lives of countless students with her patience, kindness, and unwavering commitment to learning.
A woman of strong faith, JoAnn was a devoted member of St. Jude Church in Blairstown, where she found comfort and community. In recent years, she was an active member of the Blair Women’s Book Club, Broadway Bound, and the Chatty Chicks NYC Theatre Group. Cooking was a lifelong passion for JoAnn; especially cooking for and with her family, and was also an avid reader, seasonal traveler, sun worshiper, casino enthusiast, follower of beauty and fashion, and a dynamic matriarch.
She is lovingly survived by her children, Lauren Glory (Timothy) and Damon Dato (Anne-Marie); and her cherished grandchildren, Emily, Brady, Hayley, and Ashley, who were the joy of her life. She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Powell; her sister-in-law, Diane D’Onofrio; and her nieces and nephews, Dr. Leonard Powell, Christopher LaMorticella, Mark LaMorticella, Judi LaMorticella, Angela Knight, Robert Badami, Courtney D’Onofrio, and Jordan D’Onofrio.
JoAnn will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her students, and her faith, as well as for her warmth, wisdom, and gentle spirit. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she taught and loved.
Friends and family may gather for a visitation on Friday, January 16, from 2–4 PM and 6–8 PM, at Newbaker Funeral Home, Blairstown, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 17, at 11 AM, at St. Jude RC Church, Blairstown, NJ. Interment will follow at Cedar Ridge Cemetery, Blairstown, NJ.
Services are entrusted to Newbaker Funeral Home.