Joan (Hefler) Meloro, 81, of Plantation, FL, passed away peacefully on Thursday September 8, 2022, after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard A. Meloro.
Born February 20, 1941, in Weymouth, MA, Joan was the daughter of the late Wilson H. Hefler and Isabel J. (Jacinto) Hefler. She was raised in Whitman, MA and was a 1959 graduate of Whitman High School. In 1960, Joan moved to Brockton.
Joan was very creative and enjoyed hairdressing, sewing, and pottery among other arts and crafts, but Joan had three passions: the love of her life Richard (“Muzzy”); her four children and their families; and waitressing.
Joan was a proud waitress for most of her working life. She could calculate a handwritten check in her head and was always correct, right down to the penny. Saying “she worked hard for the money” is an understatement. She often worked at multiple restaurants just to pick up enough shifts to make ends meet. Joan called many of Brockton’s fine establishments home (Over the years,) most notably Lou McMenamy’s Fish Shanty on Pleasant Street. She closed out her career at Ye Olde Standish Grille in East Bridgewater, MA.
Joan is survived by her children; Gale Schmidt of Houston, TX; Stacie Porter of Altamonte Springs, FL; Todd Ryan and his wife Dawn Marie of Middleboro, MA; and Anthony Meloro and his wife Bobbi of Plantation, FL. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Ashley, Michelle, JT, Kyle, Jack, Shane, Kristin, Halie, Carl, Sophia, Jillian, and Brody and 12 great-grandchildren; Emilee, Michael, Makayla, Mariana, Maya, Ryuu, Ena, Madison, Ryian, Jaylen, Jace, and Anastasia.
Mom, you taught us all to be tough, to work hard and to love deeply. Everything we are today, we owe to you. We will miss you dearly but knowing you are in Heaven with dad makes us smile. Thank you.
To honor her wishes, all funeral services will be private.