Joanne H. Sasse of Fairport, NY passed away peacefully on March 25, 2024. She was the beloved wife of Franz (Frank) Sasse for 57 years; devoted mother of Robert Sasse and Monica (John) Taddeo; and grandmother (“Busia”) to Elizabeth and Sarah Taddeo. She is survived by her loving siblings Daniel (Kathleen) Hawrylczak, Mary Ann (William) O’Rourke, and Patricia (Paul) Burakowski.
Joanne was born in 1939 to Joseph and Mary Hawrylczak in Buffalo, NY. Upon graduating from Immaculata Academy, she enrolled at the University of Buffalo, earning a degree in dentistry. She continued her education in Rochester, NY at Eastman Dental School, ultimately becoming one of the first women to be a licensed orthodontist. Joanne provided orthodontic services from her offices in Fairport, Penfield, and Victor and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and learning about her patients’ lives.
While a student at Eastman Dental School, Joanne lived in a boarding house on Portsmouth Terrace in Rochester. There she would forge lifelong friendships with fellow residents including a German immigrant named Franz (Frank) Sasse. Joanne and Frank married in 1966 and spent the next 57 years by each other’s side.
Joanne and Frank settled in Fairport where they raised their children Robert and Monica. They created a happy home that quickly became a hub for neighborhood kids to play and, if they were lucky, snack on Joanne’s famous potato pancakes or cowboy cookies. In 2003, Joanne became a grandmother and cherished the many adventures she had with her granddaughters Lizzy and Sarah. Whether watching her grandchildren, spending evenings sitting in their beloved backyard, or vacationing in Cape Cod, family was at the center of Joanne’s world.
Joanne kept busy in retirement traveling, gardening, and volunteering at several organizations including Learning Links where she tutored children living in the Pines of Perinton. There were many other kindnesses Joanne extended to family and friends over the years, reaching out with a deep caring and gratitude for others, leaving the world a bit better in her wake.
Joanne was a wonderful wife, mother, and friend. She will be dearly missed.
~~ Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord ~~
Services will be held at Church of the Assumption, Fairport, NY on Friday May 17th at 11:15 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Serenity House Hospice, 1278 Brace Road, Victor, NY, 14564. The staff at Serenity House, where Joanne spent her final days, are true angels.
Comments
7 responses to “Sasse, Joanne H.”
Joanne was a wonderful roll model a remarkable woman. She was strong in her faith,,devoted to her family..
God Bless,
Your Sister,❤️
Mary Ann
At Learning Links her name tag says: Ms. Joanne, Awesome 3-5th grade Tutor.” Truer words never spoken. Working with multicultural children of refuge families takes extra special caring and consistency even before academics. Joanne brought 3 special pieces of heart each week: her contagious enthusiasm, her love of learning, and her two (2) teen granddaughters! Lizzy & Sarah became invaluable too, and Sarah is now a PHS senior, in her 6th year as a tutor! Joanne’s students adored her, and she them. We will miss Joanne very much. We will create the Joanne Sasse Award in her honor. God bless Sarah, Lizzy, Monica & John Taddeo, her son Robert, siblings and loved ones.
Wir sind sind leider soweit entfernt von euch, aber wir trauern zusammen mit euch . Joanne ist nicht mehr bei uns. Es bleiben uns aber die wunderbaren Erinnerungen an Joanne und an die vielen Besuche. Einmal in Deutschland und das nächste mal in USA. Es waren für uns alle Höhepunkte in unserem Leben. Gemeinsam wurden viele wunderbare Touren unternommen. Sehr gut ist uns folgende Tour in Erinnerung geblieben.
Im Jahr 2009 organisierte Joanne eine wunderbare Tour nach Nova Scotia für uns 4 Geschwister von Franz zusammen mit ihren Ehepartnern. Zwei Jahre davor waren wir alle zusammen in Deutschland unterwegs. Schloss Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau, Zugspitze usw.. Im Haus von Joanne und Franz in Fairport fühlten wir uns immer sehr wohl. Wenn Joanne und Franz hier in Deutschland waren, verbrachte Joanne viele Stunden in unserem Garten und erfreute sich an die vielen blühenden Rosen.
RIP – liebe Joanne
Unfortunately, we are so far away from you, but we grieve with you. Joanne is no longer with us. But we still have wonderful memories of Joanne and the many visits. Once in Germany and the next time in the USA. They were highlights in our lives for all of us. Many wonderful tours were undertaken together. We remember the following tour very well.
In 2009 Joanne organized a wonderful tour to Nova Scotia for us 4 of Franz’s siblings along with their spouses. Two years before that we were all traveling together in Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle, Oberammergau, Zugspitze, etc. We always felt very comfortable in Joanne and Franz’s house in Fairport. When Joanne and Franz were here in Germany, Joanne spent many hours in our garden enjoying the many blooming roses.
RIP – dear Joanne
Joanne was a warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her intelligence and joy in living shined. Rest in peace dear sister. You will always hold a special place in my heart. Love and God bless, Patty
Dear Joanne Sasse was the regular attendee at COMIDA where she stood up for justice and the rights of the common good. She poitned out where our tax dollars were being misspent and where they should be spent. She advocated for the underdog and the powerless. We would not have the lack of safe, affordable housing for low income families if Joanne’s voice was heard. She decried funding going to developers of luxury homes when our homeless population is increasing. Joanne applied Jesus’ Gospel in all of her priority setting. I thank God for Joanne Sasse. She and Franz have been such faithful members of Church of the Assumption in Fairport and Joanne will be missed.
I remember Joanne when she was trying to navigate the complexities of pursuing social justice for the marginalized by attending COMIDA meetings and questioning their operations. She was very brave in taking on this effort when so few support such actions. It was her faith and feeling that she had to do something to help those in need. She was part of a larger effort that is still challenging the status quo of neglect that has existed far too long. Those were days when Roc ACTS was trying to establish a foothold in Rochester’s ever growing poverty cycle especially as it affected the homeless and housing poor of this area. These are wonderful tributes being paid in her memory. May she rest in peace.
I met Joanne at the Fairport Library where she used to regularly bring Lizzy and Sarah. She was one of the kindest patrons I ever met. Every year, she brought Girl Scout cookies to the staff! I will never forget how lovely she was to everyone.