Obituary of Joanne E. Conyngham

Joanne Conyngham (nee D'Alessandro), a 39-year resident of Wyckoff, passed away peacefully at 82 on October 26, 2012, surrounded by her six children. Her beloved husband of 41 years, Richard, predeceased her in 1998. The list of family to whom she was devoted and who will miss her dearly is long, including her daughters Leigh Anne Brodsky and Peggy Seisz; her sons Nick, Sean, Kevin and Brian; her sons- and daughters-in-law Greg, Don, Beth, Brenda and Liz; and her 11 grandchildren Terry, Kim, Allie, Jen, Daniel, Chris, Andrew, Michael, Connor, Isabel and Nora. Joanne was born in Cleveland to Nicholas and Leona D'Alessandro. After graduating from Manhattanville College and attending Julliard School of Music, she returned to Cleveland where she became a professional actress and singer for the Karamu Theater and Cleveland Play House, where she appeared with Dom DeLuise. Joanne and Richard moved to Wyckoff where she became a voice and piano instructor. In 1974, they were one of five founding families of OnStage, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that continues to produce summer theater for HS and college students. Her Catholic faith defined her and was an integral part of her daily life. In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation on behalf of Joanne can be made to the American Cancer Society or a fund to be established at OnStage, Inc. The wake will be on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 3-7 at Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect St., Midland Park, NJ. The funeral is on Friday, Nov. 2 at 10, also at Church of the Nativity. Arrangement by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ 07481.