Joanne Bishins

Joanne passed away after a sudden and brief illness. She leaves behind a loving family: sister, Esther Cellini; brother, Jan Friedlander; her three adoring children, Sandy, David, and Bruce Bishins, two loving step-children; Leslie Ann Fisher, and Kevin Bishins; seven beautiful grandchildren: Dan, Jacob, Harris, Emma, Leah, Julian, and Isaac, and three great-grandchildren: Asher, Teddy, and the quite recent and treasured Ezra.

Joanne will be rejoining her adoring husband of fifty-three years, Henry Lewis Bishins. Joanne and Henry married in Washington, D.C. on July 3rd of 1962 following a whirlwind romance. They worked side by side all their lives, first running the women’s clothing co. Nat Lewis. Together they grew the business from one to seven stores. Eventually, they moved into the Real Estate business where they quickly distinguished themselves as a top selling couple in the Greater Washington area. They retired to Melbourne, Florida in 1995. But, Joanne never truly retired. She carried on in the Real Estate business listing and selling homes until recently.

Devasted by the passing of her husband, Henry, on March 14th of 2015 Joanne grieved that terrible loss. And, true to form, she eventually got on with the task of living. Once more she opened herself to the possibility of love when she met and began to keep company with Ollie George, a fine man and loving companion.

Joanne was an engaged and deeply connected member of the Jewish community here in Brevard County. For years she ran the Brevard chapter of Jewish Federation. Never one to slow, Joanne was an active member of the Jewish woman’s organization Hadassah as well as her beloved Temple Beth Sholom of Melbourne. She leaves behind an indelible mark on both her family and her community.

Her physical absence will be deeply mourned by all who were blessed to know and love her. But… Joanne would want all of us to get on with the task of living.

Her surviving family request the honor of your company at her funeral service to be held this Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 10am at Temple Beth Sholom, 5995 N. Wickham Rd, Melbourne, Fl 32940

Committal Service Mount Hebron section at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 S. US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL 32955.

Joyous Celebration of Joanne’s life to follow at Bridgewater at Viera Clubhouse, 8622 Breakers Row Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32940

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Brevard Chapter of Hadassah, and Temple Beth Sholom. A scholarship fund in Joanne’s name will be established for the education of Jewish youth at Temple Beth Sholom.