Calling Hours:
Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 5:00-8:00pm
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Funeral Service:
Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 11:30am
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Rev. V. David Foradori, officiating
Pastor of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church
Joanne Marie Uzaraski, age 54, of Donation Road, Hempfield Twp., Greenville, passed away on Sunday May 15, 2016 in her residence.
Mrs. Uzarski was born in Meadville, PA on January 22, 1962 to Walter James and Norma Jean (Kroh) Duda. She was a 1980 graduate of Cambridge Springs High School and received her BS in Business Administration from Edinboro University.
After college, Joanne worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 6 years.  On May 20, 1989, she married Gary Uzarski. She and Gary were blessed with three beautiful babies by 1993 and she was able to stay home and take care of them. During this time she owned and operated a computerized embroidery business offering customized gifts and clothing.
In 2007, she found her true passion, which was helping Junior’s and Senior’s prepare for college admission tests. She has worked with hundreds of students, mainly in the Cranberry Twp. area to improve their test scores and get admission to their first choice college. She was a member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Greenville.
In addition to her husband, also surviving are her three children; Eric Uzarski and Deanna Uzarski, both of Pittsburgh and Nathan Uzarski of Erie; her father, Walter James Duda of Greenville; her siblings, Kathy Castro and her husband Mike of Guam; Mark Duda and his husband Steven Carlisle of Los Angeles, CA; Marianne Sturrock and her husband Duane of Guys Mills; Norman Kroh and his husband Dan of San Francisco, CA; Thomas Newell and his wife Suzanne of Wood River, IL; and William Newell of Sarasota, FL.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
Memorial contributions may be made to WESA Pittsburgh NPR, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or Greenville Public Library, 330 Main St., Greenville, PA 16125.
Please click here to leave a condolence for the family.
Joanne changed my life for the better. I truly believe that I may not have graduated high school if it weren’t for her. Because of her, I want to pursue a career in helping others. She was an amazing, kind, and hilarious woman. She was truly a blessing to all who knew her. I feel immense sorrow for the Uzarskis during this trying time. She will live on through her husband and their 3 beautiful children. God bless and rest in peace, Joanne.
I’d known Joanne since we were in Kindergarten together. She was one of the most honest, sincere, and caring people I had the privilege to know. Rest in Peace, Joanne and prayers and healing for the Uzarski family.
Gary, I’m so sorry to hear about Joanne. I’m in Mexico or I would come to the calling hours. As you know, I really do know the feeling and it sure isn’t pleasant that’s for sure. But you too are a man of faith and have three beautiful children. It’ll still be hard but hang in there, it does get better, I promise. God bless you Gary and your whole extended family.
Gary and Family, Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your wife Joanne. It is never easy but trust in God , he will see you and your family through this difficult sad time. Sincerely Jerry & Jo Ann Chizmar Greenville, Pa.
My grade school, junior high and senior high school memories are full of Joanne. Her last name was Duda, and mine was Dunlap, so in home room and every class where we were seated alphabetically, we were next door neighbors! She was SO smart! She was also charming and sweet, and she had a thoughtful and caring heart. I remember that it was important to Joanne to do what was right and to be honest. This world just isn’t the same without her in it. God bless you, Joanne. And may God grant peace and comfort to her family, and joy in the memories and legacy of love.
Gary,
I am unaware of the challenge or the pain it can be to lose a spouse, but I do know that Our Lord and Saviour who knows all and has everything in His control will absolutely see you through all that you and your family will go through and need. Please know that God’s timing is perfect and He knows what Joanne needed and at this present time she is in the presence of the Lord, where all born again believers long to be. My prayer is that you and your family will realize and utilize the strength and peace that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ(Isaiah 26:3-4). Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us how to trust in God and I pray that will be how you will be able to handle and continue to be “Thankful” to the on who blessed you with a wonderful wife, the mother of your three children for the time before she became perfect. Gary my thoughts and prayers are for you and your family in this tough time. Remember that God is there for you and He is with you always!
God Bless you and your family,
In Christ’s love,
Tim Henry
Gary,
Our sincere condolences to you and your family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May you never feel alone as God is there to help you through this very difficult time.
Joanne was always such a joy to work with at the Greenville Area Public Library. She helped with the Teen Summer Reading Program a few years and also helped many area teens practice for the ACT, SAT tests. She was ALWAYS so supportive and proud of her children. It was such a pleasure that God placed her in my life, even if the time was short. I will never forget her smile and her laugh. Both were contagious when she was around.
Hi. So sorry to hear about your loss. Joanne truly is the main reason my daughter got into college. Kate has a learning disability. Her grades were workable but her test scores were beyond bad. She worked and worked with my daughter. With her encouragement she helped her raise her score 5 points to secure admission into her number one choice university. My daughter referred to her as a miracle worker. I’ll never forget her and neither will my daughter.