Jo Anne Monaco

She was born in Butte, Montana in 1927, the seventh of ten children.

After she graduated from Girl’s Central High School in 1944, she attended the Sisters of Charity School of Nursing St. James Unit in Butte, graduating in 1947. Jo Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Education in 1955 from Carrol College in Helena, Montana and a Master of Science in Health from Nova University in Las Vegas in 1986.

After graduating from nurses training, Jo Anne began her career as an obstetrical nurse at St. James Hospital in Butte in 1947. She later worked at Murray Hospital in Butte as a medical-surgical nurse; the Veteran’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho as a medical-surgical nurse and a surgical nurse; St. John’s Hospital in Helena as a medical nurse, while obtaining her degree at Carrol College; and St. James Hospital in Butte as assistant head nurse of the obstetric unit. She worked as a clinical instructor at Carroll College School of Nursing and St. James Unit. She also served as Chairman of the State of Montana Maternal and Child Health Care.

She married Mario Monaco in St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Butte on August 10, 1957. The couple moved to Las Vegas in 1958 where they raised four children and resided until 2001, when they moved to Henderson, Nevada.

During her time in Las Vegas, she worked at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital before becoming one of the Clark County School District’s first school nurses. She said that her single most difficult day in nursing took place on November 21, 1980 when the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas caught fire. There were more than 5000 people in the hotel when the fire started, 85 were killed and 650 injured in the fire. She was working at a school that day, and answered the community’s call to come to the aid of the victims of the fire. She later received a commendation for her actions that day.

In 2001, the Clark County School District opened Mario C. and Jo Anne Monaco Middle School, in recognition of the couple’s service to the district and the community.

In 2005, Jo Anne was honored in the 100 Years of Influence, The Role of Women in Shaping the First 100 Years in Las Vegas.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Mario; four children: Charles (Shirley Ann), Brian (Denise), Jo Ellen (Doug), and Mark; seven grandchildren: Kyle, Rachel, Jennifer, Kathleen, Jason, Bryce, and Cheryl; siblings Ellen Lee, George Rogers, and Emily Downey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20 at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Avenue. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 21 at St. Thomas More Catholic Community, 130 N. Pecos Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Mario C. & Jo Anne Monaco Middle School, 1870 N. Lamont St., Las Vegas, NV 89115 (702-799-3670).