Joan Marlene (Vatalaro) La Bruno, 86, formerly of Bayonne, NJ and widow of Sebastian (1997), died peacefully at her home in Virginia Beach, VA of natural causes on July 10, 2020.

Joan was born on March 15, 1934 in Bayonne to parents, Michael "Mickey" Vatalaro and Nancy Latorre. She was the proud niece of the late Bayonne Police Inspector and 1955 candidate for City Commissioner, Anthony Vatalaro and the godchild of the late Dr. Joseph Mastromonico, Sr.

Joan was a 1951 graduate of Bayonne High School. Upon graduation, she worked for four years at Shultz Plumbing Supply.  After raising her family, she reentered the workforce at Maidenform before retirement.

Joan often reminisced about her childhood "home-away-from home" Berwick, PA where she spent many summers with her beloved maternal grandparents, Frank & Jennie Latorre and her many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Joan was a talented home baker who loved to garden and care for animals. She credited her time spent working with her Grandpa in his garden, visiting neighborhood farms and helping to care for the singing canary he kept as a pet as her inspiration.

Left to cherish her memory are Joan's children: Veronica Guagenti and husband, Dominick of Virginia Beach; Charles La Bruno and wife, Theresa of Mohrsville, PA; Angela Bednar of Piscataway, NJ and Christina Levesen of Middlesex, NJ.  Her grandchildren:  Amanda Guagenti-Bartak and husband Cmdr. John R. Bartak, USN; Charles La Bruno, Timothy La Bruno, James Bednar, Scott Levesen and Samantha Levesen and her great-grandchildren: Elizabeth "Betsy" Bartak, Adrianna La Bruno and Sebastian La Bruno.

Joan is survived by her sisters: Barbara (Zach) Freda of New Port Richey, FL; Carol Valente of Somerset, NJ; and Michele (Larry) Berlen of Bonita Springs, FL;  brother-in-law, Joseph (Betty) La Bruno and sister-in-law, Lucy La Bruno of Bayonne; and her life-long, dear friends Jeanne Brady of Kenilworth, NJ and Ruthie Hall of North Carolina.

A visitation will be held from 9:00 - 10:30 AM on  Friday, July 17, 2020 at the Migliaccio Funeral Home, 851 Kennedy Blvd (at 33rd St.) Bayonne.  A same-day Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrew's Church, 125 Broadway (at 4 ^th St.) in Bayonne followed by immediate entombment at Holy Cross Mausoleum in North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and/or The Virginia Beach SPCA.   Condolences and donations may also be made through Joan's obituary page at www.MigliaccioFuneralHome.com .