Obituary of Joan Louise Kimball

Joan Louise Kimball

1934 - 2025

Heaven gained a fun-loving beautiful butterfly. Joan Louise Kimball, 90, of Whitesboro, NY, passed away on the 5th day of January, 2025 at Chestnut Hall part of Sitrin Community Care Center. She was born in Utica, NY, on June 30, 1934, daughter of the late Guido and Louise Verno Gimelli.  Joan was a graduate of Proctor High School Class of 1952.  On July 4, 1953, she married Ellery ‘Al’ Arthur Kimball of Rome, NY in St. Anthony’s Church, Utica. He passed away on September 20, 1996.  Joan was a former employee of General Electric Radio Receiver Division and Bank of America retiring from the Operation Center as a Proof Processor.

Joan’s love of family was always her top priority and she flourished at countless family gatherings and an intense game of Scrabble was always a favorite until losing her sight to Grave’s Disease and radiation treatments.  She loved watching movies both at home and on the big screen and grew up following the lives of famous movie stars which led to her becoming a wealth of information about them all and a great trivia partner. She especially loved the movies The Jersey Boys and Elvis and saw impersonators of both. She was also known to sing a tune or two from those movies and even some Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin.  Joan was a die-hard NY Mets fan since they won 1969 World Series, watching nail-biters to the bitter end. Among her favorite players were Tom Seaver, Jacob deGrom and Brandon Nimmo. She enjoyed her sweets, especially a lobster claw or a big piece of coconut crème pie with a cup of Dunkin’ coffee. Joan also enjoyed engaging with her family pets; dogs Frisky, Buffer, Koko, Duchess and Bessie and treasured her cockatiel Ringo who would cheer with her saying ‘Let’s Go Mets!’

Surviving are her three beloved children; a daughter Diane Kimball Jones and two sons, Gary (Deborah) Kimball and Jesse (Patricia) Kimball all of Whitesboro; eight cherished grandchildren; Amanda (Bryan) Jones Rondeau, Christopher (Lisa) Jones, Ginelle (Michael) Killino, Gary ‘JR’ (Amanda) Kimball, Tyler Kimball, James Griffiths, Michael Griffiths, Jacob Kimball and Amanda Martin; great grandchildren Jordan Marie Jones, Madison Rondeau, Landon Killino, Brooke Lynn Killino, and Owen Kimball; and several beautiful nieces and respectful nephews. Joan also leaves special friends Lucille Ferrone, Shirley Lewis and Jill Erhardt and many others from high school and those she’s met along the way.  Joan was predeceased by six brothers; Joseph, Anthony, Julius ‘Bibs’, Alfred, Remo and Benito ‘Muzzy’ Gimelli and a sister, Margherita ‘Rita’ Jasinski Cronian.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, aides and staff, that helped care for Joan during her stay at Sitrin.

Private Services and entombment will take place at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are by Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc. 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, NY  13440

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com