Joanne Eleanor Dumene - Obituary

n October 25, 2024 our mother Joanne Dumene passed away from natural causes at the age of 97. Born Joan Hobbs in 1927 into the ‘Greatest Generation”, she grew up in upstate Pennsylvania during WW II, as the daughter of a coal miner. She attended Penn State University and it was there she met our father, Richard Dumene, and they were married in 1950. She had three children, but lost her husband in 1974 after a long battle with cancer. Mom never remarried, remaining true to the memory of her husband. She worked full time as a civilian employee for the Navy. With a journalism degree from Penn State, she was the chief editor of All Hands magazine – the official Navy publication. In the 1970s and 80s she was an active advocate for women’s rights and equal pay for equal work. Our mother raised three teenagers by herself, after our father’s death. I’m sure we each gave her a run for her money back then! But she managed to provide well for us and helped each of us out financially where she could. She retired in 1994, but continued to travel and write freelance articles. Unfortunately, she developed dementia starting about age 90, and by 92 had to be moved to a memory care facility. In spite of the mental handicap, she remained a strong and independent person until the end. Joanne is survived by her three children, Michael Dumene, Richard Dumene, and Mary Chrusciel; her six grandchildren, Richard Dumene Jr., Christopher Dumene, Rachel Dumene, Victoria Dumene, Daniel Dumene, and Ryan Dumene; and her great granddaughter Lilly Dumene, who was able to meet Grammy days before she passed. RIP Mama, Mom, Grammy. We miss you. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 12 P.M. at Saint Mary's Piscataway Chapel, 13401 Piscataway Rd, Clinton, MD 20735. Interment to follow at St. Mary's Piscataway Church Cemetery.