JoAnn Elizabeth Zendan

JoAnn Imperati Zendan, 61, of Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House surrounded by family on April 27, 2025, after working hard to beat a rapid and aggressive cancer. The love, strength, positivity, and humor she displayed were the same pillars that underpinned and sustained her impactful life as a caring daughter, generous friend, devoted spouse, and adoring mother.

She was born May 15, 1963 to a strong Italian father Michael Imperati and a doting Swedish mother Judy (née Bunnell), who passed away from her own battle with lymphoma cancer when JoAnn was only 26.

Growing up in East Haven, Connecticut along with her younger sister Laurie, JoAnn enjoyed lake trips to Maine with her family; concerts and backstage meet and greets with her girlfriends; picnics, bowling, outings, and horseshoes with “The Club” families; cheering at football games as a pom-pom girl; and getting involved in school programs. She graduated East Haven High School as Senior Class President and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

After earning a B.A. in Computer Science from Quinnipiac University, she worked for a Connecticut-based direct marketing company running its IT function and then as a project analyst for the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut.

She met the love of her life, Michael F. Zendan II, a young corporate attorney, during a night out with girlfriends at Boppers when he was out celebrating his birthday. The next day, JoAnn told her friends she was going to marry the man she just met. Early dates included comparing New Haven and Hartford sfogliatelle pastries at the movie theater, trips to the Connecticut shore, and back road motorcycle rides. They wed on April 24, 1993, among blooming dogwood and cherry blossom trees (this year celebrating 32 wonderful years together). 

JoAnn’s pride and joy was staying at home to raise her three beautiful children. Her beloved daughter Gabrielle was born January 20, 1994 and identical twin sons Andrew (partner Leslie Paley) and Michael III (fiancée Jessica Poratti) followed in December 11, 1995. 

Her husband Michael II’s career led the family to Charlotte, NC in the fall of 1996. JoAnn quickly made the city their home, getting involved with the kids’ sports and creative activities, attending Bunko game nights with the ladies, pool day summers and Memorial Day parties with the neighborhood friends, and always being the hostess with the mostest. 

She was passionate about creating a happy home and decorated for every holiday. Her dedicated gardening was reminiscent of her nurturing nature, with pink azaleas and pink tulips bursting into bloom each spring for years.

JoAnn loved children and spent her free time as an assistant librarian for the St. Gabriel Catholic School and Charlotte Mecklenburg School system, and a part-time substitute teacher and book drive volunteer at Elizabeth Lane Elementary School.

She instilled in her own children wonder and adventure. Her family would take many road trips to soccer games across the east coast, Charleston trips for shopping and crispy flounder, ski trips out west, and culinary-motivated trips that often included afternoon tea. JoAnn documented it all throughout the years in her meticulous collection of photo albums and home movies. 

She supported her children and husband in every passion and endeavor. And when family and friends needed her, she was there. Hers was always a lending hand, a listening ear, a welcoming smile, an encouraging handwritten note. 

She spread love wherever she went — always dressed and accessorized to the nines and never without her pink lipstick. 

JoAnn was and will always be the caring daughter, generous friend, devoted spouse, and adoring mother. Her most important wish to all is to live a life full of love and adventure surrounded by family and friends that lift you up and make you smile.

She leaves Michael II in the good and wise hands of Gabrielle, Andrew and his partner Leslie, and Michael III and his fiancée Jess. From JoAnn’s perch in heaven, she will be playing cards with her mother Judy, father Mike, stepmother MaryAnn, mother-in-law Rosemary, and father-in-law Big Mike and making sure her Michael II watches his caloric intake.

If you want to honor JoAnn during this special time, wear plenty of pink to her memorial services and, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to All-In to Fight Cancer in her name: Donate to Help Cancer Patients and Families in North Carolina (https://allintofightcancer.org/donate/) and, when you do, copy Michael II at [email protected].

Visitation hours will be held from 4 pm to 6pm Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Hankins and Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203, and on Friday May 2, 2025, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC. from 10 am to 11am followed by Mass of Christian Burial.

Interment will take place in Sharon Memorial Park.

Condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com.