JoAnn Ondrusek Sotto Peterson

JoAnn was born in 1947 in Pennsylvania to Joseph and Mildred Ondrusek. She was born as the second child to a family of 6 children. Joseph, Thomas , Terrance, Mary-Lynn Kelly and Nancy Shaffer. The Ondrusek family was full of love and had a strong faith in God.

JoAnn at a young age loved music and singing . That passion developed stronger throughout her life.

JoAnn attended college in Ohio where she received her degree in childhood education. College is where she found and married her first love Luis Francisco Sotto.

JoAnn and Luis created their family roots in Miami, Florida. This is where Luis started his own dental practice. They had four beautiful children Eric , Jason, Nicole ( Nikki) Affleck,and Jacqueline (Jackie) Galbasini.

Their faith started in the Catholic religion but then they converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When JoAnn was in her forties her first husband of twenty five years, Luis passed away, however God had someone already waiting on the sideline to bring Joy and Love back into her life.

JoAnn started her teaching career at Pinecrest Elementary School, a year before Luis’ death.

After Luis’ death JoAnn met, courted, and married the second love of her life Edward J. Peterson, Pinecrest’s renowned physical education teacher. This brought to her two new daughters, Tammi Peterson and Brandi Patchan.

The love Ed and JoAnn had was that of a fairytale. The respect, admiration, and love they had for each other only got stronger through their 24 years of marriage.

JoAnn was called a teacher for 12 years.

Both JoAnn and Ed retired from their teaching positions and moved to Orlando, Florida where they became employees at Walt Disney World.

JoAnn was a devoted and loving grandmother to all 13 of her grandchildren: Jaden, Shay, Savannah, Gisele, Sienna, Taylor, Ford, Cole, Bailey, Lawson, Sam, Joey, and Nathan.

JoAnn is always referenced as “angelic “. It is a strong adjective to use but it is honestly the only adequate one. She loved others deeply and made others feel their worth. She had a Christ-like love; it was unconditional and sacrificial.

She will always be cherished and missed but we know she will be nurturing, guiding and protecting us from the other side of the veil.