JoAnne M. Castrogiovanni

Kuehner

JoAnne M. Castrogiovanni Kuehner of Naples, Florida and Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, came to the end of her amazing life on November 9, 2026 at The Chateau at Moorings Park. She leaves behind her loving husband, Carl J. Kuehner. Together they created a beautiful family and shared 64 wonderful years.

JoAnne was born on August 26, 1941 and she was raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Following her graduation from Saint Paul’s High School, she continued her studies at Lackawanna Academy where she obtained a degree in cosmetology. In 1962, she married Carl J. Kuehner, and they are the parents of four children, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

During her child-rearing years, Mrs. Kuehner held numerous leadership positions in social, educational and charitable programs in the Connecticut area.

As the children went off to college, JoAnne also became a student. First she obtained her real estate salesman’s license, and then she attended Sacred Heart University, where she took classes in interior design. With this background, she undertook design commissions with real estate developers, as well as private individuals.

Continuing to seek outlets for her boundless energy, Mrs. Kuehner became a model for such high-fashion shops as: Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. To complement those vocational activities, JoAnne felt a need to become involved with a not-for-profit organization. Consequently, she became a volunteer for AmeriCares, an international relief organization, headquartered in New Canaan, and rapidly progressed to become a member of its Board of Directors.

During her volunteer service to AmeriCares, JoAnne coordinated a number of emergency airlifts around the world, including traveling to Moscow and Armenia in 1989 on the first anniversary of the tragic Armenian earthquake.

In 1989, Mrs. Kuehner also made her first visit to Haiti, as an AmeriCares ambassador. This trip was life changing! When she realized that 87% of Haitians were illiterate, she immediately began to raise money in the United States to fund primary school educational programs in Haiti. As a result of the success of her efforts, she was compelled to resign from AmeriCares, and formed Hope for Haiti (“HFH”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to continue her work.

Over the past thirty-seven years, HFH has grown significantly, providing assistance to Haitians, particularly the children, in education, nutrition, clean water and health care.

Today, notwithstanding the gang violence in Port-au-Prince, HFH employs more than 150 Haitians, including doctors and nurses, supports 7,300+ students and provides in excess of $49,000,000 of gifts-in-kind, especially medicines and medical supplies. JoAnne’s work in Haiti is recounted in her autobiography – “Oh, for the Love of Haiti!”

In recognition of the great work that JoAnne has done in Haiti, the University of Scranton awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree, and, with Carl, she was the recipient of the President’s Medal from that institution. Furthermore, to memorialize her contributions, one wing of the Scranton Science Building is named “Kuehner Hall”. She was also named “Woman of the Year” by Gulfshore Life, a “Woman of Style" by N Magazine,and a “Woman of Achievement” by the American Association of University Women.

In 1998, JoAnne became a member of The American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. This lay religious order of the Catholic Church dates back some 900+ years. The Order has a world-wide membership with a mission of serving “our lords the sick and poor”. Each year the Order brings very ill individuals (malades) on Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in search of miracles. JoAnne was a participant in 18 such Pilgrimages and, with Carl, led the 2013 Pilgrimage.

In addition to Carl, the love of her life, she is survived by her daughter, Kimberly, Scranton, Pennsylvania; a son, Carl R. (Allie), Stamford, Connecticut; a son, Paul (Patricia), New Canaan, Connecticut; a son, Kurt (Hillary), Stamford, Connecticut; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

JoAnne was a loving mother, and a devoted wife. She will be remembered by family and friends for her compassion for the less fortunate, her strong faith in our Lord, her fairness and quiet strength. All who came in contact with her were treated with kindness and respect.

Friends may call Saturday November 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Church, which is located at 1510 Penn Avenue, Scranton, Pa. . The viewing will be immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. The Interment will be private at a later date.

For those wishing to honor JoAnne’s life, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either: the JoAnne and Carl J. Kuehner Scholarship Fund at the University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street; Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510, or Hope for Haiti, Inc., 1021 Fifth Avenue North; Naples, Florida 34102.