Joanne Soto

She was born to Ambrose and Genevieve Quinn on July 15, 1955 in Philadelphia. She moved around a lot with her brothers and sisters. She joked that her mother had gypsy blood and got bored if she stayed put too long. She found the love of her life Phil Soto, Jr. when she moved to Tucson, Arizona and married him on January 6, 1973. Together, they had three children: Phil, Tina and Heather.

She is survived by her brothers and sisters Amby, Denise, Linda, Kathy, Billy, and John; and her grandchildren Tyler, Dylan, Aidan and Andan.

Joanne loved reading “trashy” novels, playing bingo (at least 6 bingo cards at a time) and living outside tending to her rose bushes, sunbathing in her two piece up to a few years ago and chasing her grandkids around.

Up until Covid, you would find her waiting on her customers at Bread and Butter Café, greeting each one with a big smile and her famous line “Are you hungreeeeee?” This was her second family and she loved watching children grow up in the café and then returning with their own children. Joanne devoted her life to others. First starting from a very young age to help raise her siblings and continuing with her children and grandchildren. She carried the enormous burdens of life with dignity and grace. Despite working two jobs, she never missed a gymnastics practice for Tina or a baseball game for Phil. Despite the pain throughout her body, she never said no to a grandchild’s request to play soccer, Legos, or a game of gin rummy.

Her loving spirit and kindness lives on in her children and grandchildren. She was the rock of the family and is deeply missed.