Whitehall – Josephine “Jo” (Leonbruno) Twyman, 97, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 17, 2023, with her loving family by her side and in the comfort of her own home. Born October 4, 1926, in Whitehall, NY, she was the daughter of the late Paul Leonbruno and Anna (Pagarella) Leonbruno. Jo was a graduate of Whitehall High School, Class of 1946. After graduating she married Stewart Twyman at the Our Lady of Angels Church in Whitehall. Together they raised seven children. After her children were grown, she became a school bus driver for Whitehall Jr. Sr. High School and Elementary School. Notably she received an appreciation award for saving a child from choking on a piece of hard candy while on the bus.
She loved to go flower shopping when springtime arrived and planted flowers around her house and at the OLA Church’s Blessed Virgin Mary statue. Christmas time was her favorite time of the year, decorating inside and outside her home and plenty of gift giving. She enjoyed sending cards to many people wishing them a Happy Birthday, Get Well or simply Thinking of You to lift their spirits. It was evident that her cards were appreciated as she received many cards throughout her illness as well. A special thanks to Muriel Frazier and Annie Stark for their weekly cards of encouragement and prayers.
Jo was a devout Catholic and a communicant of Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church. She attended Daily Mass, Saturday Night Mass, and Monday Night Rosary until she physically was unable to attend. Her friend Carol Rocque would happily bring the eucharist to Jo every Friday morning, which was greatly appreciated.
She was a strong woman who survived breast cancer and fought hard with Parkinsons Disease. She always smiled and had a kind word to anyone she spoke with.
Besides her parents and husband, she is pre-deceased by her daughter-in-law Cindy Twyman; brothers: David Leonbruno, Paul Leonbruno Jr., sisters: Mary Gooley, Loretta French, and Lucy Waters.
She leaves behind her daughters: Ann Twyman, Joanne Davis (Bob), Susanne Grady (Chris), Deanna Baldwin (Marc), sons: James Twyman (Nora), Paul Twyman (Dora), John Twyman and brother: John Leonbruno.
Her grandchildren: Deanna Davis, Jennah Lane (Adam), Joseph Grady (Stephanie), Jaclyn Grady, Paul Twyman (Chelsea), Alexandra Twyman, James Twyman, Alexis Fiorino (Frank), Samantha Griffin (Dillon), Lauren Baldwin, John Twyman.
Her great- grandchildren: Brayden, Makenna, Jace and Annistyn Shattuck, Karley and Aleah Lane, Jack, Harper and Dominic Grady, Bailey and Jameson Fiorino, and Wesley Griffin.
All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved their “Gram “and “Mah Ma” immensely.
She also left behind several nieces and nephews.
Special thank you to High Peaks Hospice and their compassionate group of nurses, Maura, Cassie, Maria, Shay, and social worker Bri. To Father Zac for his visits. Also, a special thanks to her good neighbors Cassie and Zac Stomski for always helping whenever the need arose.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 am on Monday November 27, 2023, at the Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church in Whitehall, NY. There will be no calling hours at the funeral home. Burial will be private for the family at the Boardman Street Cemetery in Whitehall.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the OLH Church, 9-Wheeler Ave., Whitehall, NY 12887
Arrangements are under the care of the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc.,46 Williams Street, Whitehall.
Online condolences can be made at www.jillsonfuneralhome.com
