Worcester - The sun rose April 6th, 1961 and set on August 5th, 2026. Joanne (Konczanin) Landry brought sunshine and joy to all those who knew her. Her Mom always sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her when she was small and she must’ve taken it to heart.
Jo was kind, generous, fun, upbeat, loved a good party. She was the queen of Mai Tais. She traveled to Cancun many times with her friend, Sharon, and sometimes her sister, Linda. A beach was one of her favorite places, usually up in Maine- York, Wells, Old Orchard. Weekends up there in her tiny trailer with her kids, nephews, sisters, friends were always a grand although crowded adventure. She spent a lot of hours in Wells on the beach with Holly & Ron. When she was 12 & Linda was 20 they drove & camped across the country to Jackson Hole, Wyoming laughing the whole trip despite the age difference.
She was a supervisor for 40 years at TJX warehouse in Worcester & was loved by all her coworkers.
Jo enjoyed being with her kids & was like a second mother to her nephews. People were always welcome to her home- the door was always open. When her friends experienced hard times she gave them a place to live until they got back on their feet. Tuesday nights were pitch league at the Cosmopolitan Club on Hamilton Street with her sister, Holly. She was a regular visitor at her beloved soap operas, especially “All My Children” & “One Life To Live.” She couldn’t get enough of the happenings at Central Perk on “Friends.” Conan O’Brien was another favorite of hers. If you had any problem trying to figure out an actor’s name or what movie they were in Jo pretty much could come up with the answer.
She will be sorely missed. A light has gone out. She leaves behind her daughter, Allison Kowalik of Quincy, MA; 2 sons- Michael & David Landry of Worcester, sisters Linda Markey of Worcester, Holly Gutierrez & her husband Ron of Worcester, and nephews Kevin, and Cody Markey of Worcester.
Many thanks to the nurses & staff at Rose Monahan Hospice Home who helped care for her in her last week of life, especially Kay & Erica, two lovely, caring nurses.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the Wheelock Inn in Millbury, MA on October 4, 2026 at 1 PM in the Wheelock Inn 82 Wheelock Avenue Millbury.
If anyone would like to donate in her memory consider Rose Monahan Hospice House through VNA Hospice & Palliative Care (www.vnacare.org/donors) or, because of her love of “Friends,” to the Matthew Perry Foundation (matthewperryfoundation.org)
Marchand Memorial Homes, Dirsa-Morin Memorial Chapel 298 Grafton St. is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory or Joanne or to sign her online guestbook, please visit www.MarchandMemorialHomes.com