Joann Zwerneman

She was born January 26, 1925 in Port Arthur, Texas and was given the name Josephine Mary Ann Fredo. Her late parents were Lucy Mae (Lanza) and John Fredo and instilled a hard-work ethic into her as a young child as she was raised during the Great Depression. This challenging upbringing served JoAnn well all her life, and what a full life it was. She attended John H. Reagan High School where she met Conrad, the one true love of her life. After graduating during WW II, she married Conrad William Zwerneman in early-1947. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on February 18th of this year and she is survived by Conrad, her youngest son Robert Conrad Zwerneman and his wife Nancy. JoAnn and Conrad’s eldest son William John Zwerneman passed away in 2018. She is also survived by: six grandchildren, Tisha Zwerneman Rector, William John Zwerneman, Jr., Ryan Conrad Zwerneman, Rachel Zwerneman Provow, Meaghan Zwerneman and Michael Zwerneman; and many great grand children.

Early in JoAnn’s career, she was a homemaker, moving from Houston to Beaumont to Corpus Christi and back to Houston as Conrad worked his way up through the ranks of the Carnation Milk Company. Once settled back in Houston, JoAnn became an executive secretary and ultimately busted through the glass ceiling at Coca-Cola’s Foods Division where she oversaw that company’s centralized word processing center until her retirement in 1985. JoAnn and Conrad relocated to Lake Livingston to start the next chapter in their lives. She was active in the choirs at various churches; a long-time volunteer at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, and the self-appointed director of fun at Waterwood National Golf Club, Elkins Lake Country Club and virtually every room she entered. Over her life, she accumulated hundreds of true friends, like-minded souls who enjoyed dancing, playing golf, bridge, and life in general. She was an incredible cook and an even better friend to all who shared her infectious zest for life.

JoAnn passed away in her sleep on July 6, 2022 when God called her home. Relatives and friends who have an interest in celebrating JoAnn’s amazing and full life are invited to A Celebration of Life, which will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Woodhaven Village located at 2275 Riverway Dr., Conroe, TX. Please, no flowers, no gifts, just be prepared to share a memory you cherish about JoAnn. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. For additional information, contact her son Bob ( bzwerneman@yahoo.com or 210-722-9218).