Joan Follina Brancato

Joan went to a grade school run by the railroads. She attended St. Mary’s Academy in Leavenworth, Kansas and then went on to St. Mary's College for two years, but she was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Teresa's College, currently known as Avila University. After serving a one-year Medical Technology internship at Research Medical Center, she passed the national registry exam for Medical Technologists, placing in the top 16% in the nation.

While working at Research, Joan had the privilege of doing blood work on President Harry Truman. She was called in the middle of the night to come to the lab to set up a blood transfusion for the President's surgery that was going to be performed that night. The next morning, when Joan went into the President's room to stick his finger, he let out an expletive. His wife, Bess Truman, was sitting in a chair in the room and she said, "Harry this is a young girl. Now you apologize to her for using such language in her presence". President Truman replied, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken so harshly to you". She always said that her “claim to fame” was that she not only stuck a sitting President’s finger but was given an apology from one.

During her 12 years at Research Medical Center, she was the head of Serology, and was the first one to discover a case of Lupus in the State of Missouri. When the hospital moved from 23rd & Holmes to its current location on Meyer Boulevard, Joan was the last person to leave the old hospital. She always joked that they told her to be sure to turn the lights out.

Joan left Research to join the Medical Department of Trans World Airlines (TWA). Years later, after TWA closed its medical division, she held various administrative positions. Her favorite administrative job there was selling airplane parts. When American Airlines (AA) bought TWA, Joan was among the first 24 people in Kansas City to become an official AA employee. She worked a grand total of 38 years for both Airlines. Because she worked for an airline, Joan traveled throughout the world with her family, going to such exotic places as Hong Kong and Cairo. She and Marion always had a bag packed and ready to go to a new city or country.

Joan was extremely talented with a sewing needle and gifted many people with amazing Christmas stockings. She was also skilled in the kitchen, making incredible meals daily for her family and hosting Thanksgiving dinner for dozens each year. Joan made delicious pies, and her crusts were the flakiest in town! She loved opening her home to her family and friends.

Joan was an avid reader and writer. She never forgot to write a “thank you” note, and always included a few personal lines in any holiday card she sent out. She loved baseball, opera, and singing.

Joan was a loving and caring wife to Marion, who was the love of her life for 67 years. She always considered her most important accomplishments were her two daughters and the fact that they grew up to be very responsible people. Joan was also an avid Democrat, and never missed her privilege to vote. She will be missed for her beautiful smile and her great sense of humor.

Joan may have not accomplished her childhood dream of being a “movie star”, but she was the star in our lives, and we are all better people for knowing and loving her.

Her family would like to thank the many caregivers at Home Instead for the loving treatment they gave to Joan in her last months. Also, a thanks to the Kansas City Hospice Care nurses, especially Sharon and Norma Ann who helped her pass.

In lieu of flowers, Joan’s family asks that you consider a donation to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Kansas City (https://www.littlesistersofthepoorkansascity.org/donations/), or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate).

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, John & Giovanna Follina, her sisters Zaira Brancato and Elda Lipari, brothers-in-law Senator Jasper Brancato, Stephen Lipari, and Jack Brancato, uncle Albert Stefani, and niece Vicki Brancato.

She leaves behind her husband, Marion Brancato, two daughters, Stefani Brancato and Andrea Brancato-Vovk (Frank Vovk), and her two precious granddaughters, Gabriella “Gabi” Vovk and Sofia Brancato, sisters-in-law Rosalind Brancato and Madelyn Fitzgerald, her nieces JoAnn Cannova (Joe Sr.), and Veronica Bonino, Frances Meany (Kirk), and Dr. Leah Barreca (Mike), nephew Steve Lipari, and her grand-nephews, Dr. Joseph Cannova, Jr., Dr. Christopher Cannova, Dr. John Bonino, and Nick Bonino.