Josephine A. “JoAnn” “Josie” (Danilowicz) Marafka, 85, of Iselin, PA, passed away with her daughters by her side, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at St. Andrew’s Village, in Indiana, PA.  She was born April 21,1941, in Latrobe, PA, the daughter of Henry J. and Helen (Sikora) Danilowicz.

JoAnn grew up in the small PA coal mining towns of White Station and Moween.  She was a 1959 graduate of Saltsburg High School, where she played basketball as a guard throughout her sophomore to senior years.  She was a member of the G.A.A. (Girl’s Athletic Association) and served as secretary in her sophomore year.  JoAnn and her girlfriends enjoyed going to local dances, the movie theater, and the bowling alley in Saltsburg.

After graduating high school, JoAnn worked at Jiffy Steak Co. in Saltsburg then at Robertshaw Controls Co. in Indiana until she married the love of her life, John S. Marafka Jr., on June 24, 1961. They shared 64 blessed years together having four daughters, whom she cherished deeply.  In addition to being a homemaker, JoAnn later worked as a cafeteria monitor at Elders-Ridge Elementary School for more than 10 years and would later become a personal childcare provider for two families.

JoAnn took pride in her Polish heritage by being an excellent cook and baker making traditional foods such as paska bread, pierogies, haluski and halupki to mention a few. You bet your ‘dupa’ she loved polka dancing and playing cards with her family and group of friends.  She especially enjoyed sharing trips to the casino and playing bingo with her mother, Helen. When not out and about, you could find JoAnn spending time with John, watching her favorite TV shows, like Murder She Wrote, Hallmark movies, and Westerns, especially those with John Wayne “the Duke”.  She loved rooting for her Pittsburgh sports teams and her college favorite, the Clemson Tigers.

As her daughters grew up, she supported their school activities, whether it was going to a PTA meeting, listening to a band concert, watching a marching band event, or cheering at a basketball or softball game…she was always in the stands for her kids.  JoAnn loved her entire family, but above all, she treasured her grandchildren whom she was so proud of, and shared in all their accomplishments.  She sincerely loved spoiling them and was the best Grandma ever.  Attending their school and community activities, she enjoyed all those moments that became treasured memories.

JoAnn was a member of the former Holy Cross Catholic Church in Iselin, St. Matthew Catholic Church in Saltsburg, and the Nowrytown Sportsman’s Club Auxiliary.

Surviving are her four daughters, Bernadette Shaffer (Lance) of Washington Township (Apollo), Lynnette Colton (Chuck) of Spring Church, Brigette Marafka (Doug Shupe) of Iselin, and Heather Shearer (Jeremy) of Iselin; seven grandchildren, Johnathan Cooper, Ethan Cooper, Tanner Colton, Lainie Shearer, Steven Shaffer, Javan Shearer and Matt Shupe; a brother, Paul Danilowicz of Canton, OH; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Patricia “Patsy” Eisenman (William “Bill”) of Indiana, Elizabeth “Liz” Whitesel of Saltsburg, Richard “Paul” Marafka (Joyce) of Middletown, James “Jim” Marafka of Virginia Beach, VA, Dorothy Royer (Joel) of Indiana,  Janet Marafka of Indiana, Pamela “Pam” McGeary (Jim) of Indiana; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and Godchildren.

In addition to her parents and stepfather, Alexander Tyahur, she was preceded in death by her devoted husband, “John Boy” just six months ago; sisters-in-law, Anne Danilowicz and Lillian Good; and brother-in-law, Norman “Huey” Whitesel.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at St. Andrew’s Village for their care provided to JoAnn and her family.

Friends will be welcomed by her family on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 4-8 p.m. at the Clawson Funeral & Cremation Center, 170 Main St., Leechburg, PA 15656 (724-842-1051). Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, at Saint James the Greater Church, 109 Owens View Ave., Apollo, with Father Thomas More Sikora, OSB, as celebrant.  Private interment will follow at Iselin Union Cemetery.