JoAnn (McVey) O'Brien

Born and raised in Danville, Pennsylvania, JoAnn was the only child of Ann (Holuba) and William Paul McVey (Cal). For 46 years, they owned and operated McVey’s Furniture Store in Danville which clearly had a great impact on JoAnn’s life. She attended Villa Sacred Heart and Danville High School in Danville PA, Centenary College in NJ, and Syracuse University in NY where she earned a Bachelor's in Interior Design.

JoAnn met the love of her life, William (Bill) John O'Brien at a barn party in 1961. She and Bill wed in June of 1965 and while living in Collingswood, NJ, welcomed their first child, David, in September of 1966. They moved to Betzwood, PA in 1967 and welcomed their second child, Greg, in October of 1968. Moving to Audubon PA in 1969, they welcomed their third child Jodi in June of 1972. JoAnn and Bill lived in Valley Forge PA from 1989 to 2017 and then Collegeville PA until 2022, when they made their Fort Myers winter home of 20 years their permanent residence.

JoAnn loved the sun. She spent countless summer days at the George Washington Swim CIub in Audubon and many more on the beach in Avalon NJ, where she and Bill had a vacation home from 1980 to 2017.

JoAnn was always doing something. From her first job as a buyer at Gimbles, to keeping-up a household while raising three children (plus a dog and cat), to running several video rental locations, to her recreational interests, JoAnn rarely sat still. Those recreational interests included bowling, bridge, golf and interior design. She decorated her homes and country clubs, and offered decorating advice to her children, dozens of friends, and more than a few innocent by-standers…

JoAnn is survived by Bill O’Brien, her beloved husband of nearly 58 years, her children David (Amber) O’Brien (MD & FL), Greg (Lisa) O'Brien (VA) and Jodi (Bill) Straub (PA), grandchildren Mary (O'Brien) Ukens, Katie O'Brien, Jacob O'Brien, Jack Straub, Colin Straub, Julie Straub and Allison O'Brien, and great-grandchildren Megan and Gideon Ukens. She was predeceased by her grand-daughter, Megan O'Brien.

A service will be held at 11am on June 29th, 2023, at Limerick Garden of Memories in Limerick PA with a reception to follow at Spring-Ford Country Club in Royersford PA.

In lieu of flowers, JoAnn requested memorial donations be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.