JoAnne (Jo) Ghirardi, 89 years of age, passed away peacefully from Alzheimer's
dementia, Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the Claiborne County Senior Care in Port
Gibson Mississippi.

JoAnne was born December 28, 1935, in Sulphur, Louisiana, and grew up in
Hackberry, Louisiana. Her parents, the late John W McNeill Sr and Inez (Wiley)
Bertrand. She was the eldest of three living children and preceded in death by brothers
John W Jr and Daniel W McNeill and a still born baby brother and two stepsiblings
Norris Bertrand and Dona Dean (Bertrand) Richard. She is survived by her husband of
68 years, Gordon Ghirardi and their three adult children Kurt Ghirardi, Mark (Lori)
Ghirardi, Monica Ghirardi, grandchildren Melinda (Paul) Huff, Dr Dominique (Evan)
Ghirardi, Mark (Lauren) Ghirardi II and great grandson Mark Ghirardi III.
JoAnne was educated in nursing, graduating from Charity Hospital Nursing
School in New Orleans. It was there that she met Gordon and married after converting
to Catholicism in 1957. She was a licensed RN in 5 states and held various
qualifications (CCU, ICU, UR/QM/CM), advancing in her career to the position of
Hospital Administrator.

She was a devoted caregiver and peacemaker to all, loved time with family and
friends. She learned to dance as a young girl, and it was to be her lifelong passion.
JoAnne and Gordon enjoyed Ballroom Dancing, she achieved Gold Level Dance
Status, and later competed at the Breakers Competition, placing 1st in her division. She
had amazing pale blue eyes, blonde hair, played the piano, was an impressive cook
and immensely proud of her Scottish heritage. She had style like the French in her
dress with hats for every occasion, the way she dressed, the bold jewelry she loved to
wear and the way she would flip her scarf over her shoulder when it was cold. She
loved and was loved!

A funeral Mass and celebration of life will be August 27, 2025 at St Paul Catholic
Church 713 Crawford, Vicksburg, burial at City of Vicksburg Cedar Hill
Cemetery, 326 Lovers Land, Vicksburg, and Reception at the Floweree 2309
Pearl St., Vicksburg, MS.

A loving tribute for JoAnne McNeill Ghirardi, age 89, (December 28, 1935 - Date of
Death). Celebrating a life well lived as a daughter, wife, mother, and Registered Nurse
and Hospital Administrator. Married to Gordon A. Ghirardi, March 23, 1957, 68 years of
marriage, children Kurt P. Ghirardi, Mark S. Ghirardi, I, Monica A. Ghirardi,
grandchildren Melinda G. Huff, Dominique G. Evans, and Mark S. Ghirardi, II and
great-grandmother to Mark S. Ghirardi, III (Trip)

The first nursing student allowed to marry at Charity Hospital Nursing School under the
watchful eyes of the Sisters of Charity, New Orleans, Louisiana. She held nursing
license in 5 states: Louisiana, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Ohio. After
working in every hospital unit, PRN, and Private Pay, she went on to Nursing
Recruiting, Case Manager, Utilization Review, Quality Management, Risk
Management, and finished her career as Hospital Administrator in Quality
Management, Utilization Review, Infectious Disease, and Risk Management at
Ascension Hospital in Louisiana. JoAnne's compassion and nurturing gift was always
extended to her family and friends.

JoAnne was raised in Hackberry, Louisiana until she pursued her training in Nursing at
the behest of her Great Aunt Josephine Sutton and her Mother Inez Bertrand. She
was preceded in death by her parents, John Wiley McNeill (Bem) and Inez Prevost

McNeill Bertrand, and stepfather John Wiley Bertrand (Wiley), her brothers baby
McNeill who died at birth, John McNeill, and Daniel McNeill.

JoAnne was known for her warm charming nature as well as her sense of humor and
quick wit. As a teenager, she had a love of dance, playing piano at church, and she
was named Sweet Heart Queen at Hackberry High School. She also played
basketball. Her love for dance followed her throughout her life. She took dance
classes including Tap and Jazz dance. When she and Gordon celebrated their 35th
wedding anniversary, they decided to enter into a Ballroom Dance Class. This class
lead to both JoAnne and Gordon achieving Gold Level Dance Status. JoAnne and her
dance instructor won many dance competitions including The Breakers. The Breakers
were the upmost level for amateurs. She placed 1st overall the other competitors in her division.

Raised in the Baptist church, she decided while in Nursing School to convert over to
Catholicism. She became an active member of her faith. She felt a special bond with
Saint Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Father Peo. She had worn a Marian amulet for the
majority of her life

As one of her children, her mark on my life and my soul is immutable and forever. I
always felt loved and safe in her arms. As I matured into an adult, our relationship grew
in kind. I could count on her to give me a true real but compassionate answer. She was
my sounding board and confidant. She was the glue in our family. Our touch stone, our
rock, our voice of reason in this turbulent world. A loving and kind person, everyone
who met her always told me how they loved her and enjoyed meeting her. She had
immense style like the French in her dress with her hats for every occasion, the way
she dressed, the bold jewelry she loved to wear and the way she would flip her scarf
over her shoulder when it was cold. She bore the complexion of her Scottish heritage,
her pale blue eyes and her blonde hair with a natural white streak that ran down the
sides of her face.

In the quiet moments of reflection, we remember and celebrate a life well-lived. Our
dearly departed leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and purpose—a guiding star
for all who follow. Though we mourn their loss, we are grateful for the time shared, the
lessons learned, and the memories cherished.

May their soul find peace, and may we find solace in the enduring impact of a
remarkable life. The story does not end here; it continues as we carry their memory
forward, touching new lives and shaping the world with the goodness they inspired.

(Please note the name McNeill where the "c" is underlined as an abbreviation. The
full spelling should be MacNeill. The MacNeill of Barabara is the family clan from
Scotland.)