Joann L. Maywalt

Joann (Johns) Maywalt passed away peacefully on October 21, 2026 after an illness.

Joann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 9, 1955, daughter of Eleanor (Ciccarelli) Johns, and grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts where she graduated from Central New England College. Joann worked many years as the Culinary Arts Baking Teacher and Chairperson at Bay Path Vocational High School where she shared her extensive knowledge and love of baking with her students and directed her students in numerous musical performances.

Joann married the love of her life, Fredrick, on February 7, 1987 and her highest priority was providing a loving life and home for Fred, herself and her cats; Jerry, Jerry #2, Sammy and Ellie; and sharing this life with her extended family.

Religious faith, music, baking, gardening, and traveling were Joann’s passions. She shared her faith and musical talent at Trinity Lutheran Church, playing the piano and organ, directing the youth choir, preaching the sermon, and leading the youth group in a musical performance of Godspell. Later, at Calgary Church, she also directed the congregants in Godspell, which they performed in nursing care facilities and prisons throughout Massachusetts. While living in Oxford, Joann was a member of St. Ann’s Church, which later merged with St. Roch’s Church. She was very active in this church community, serving as a Religious Education Teacher, Eucharist Minister and providing numerous meals for churchwide events. Joann spent many hours tending to her flower gardens, which were spectacular to behold! Joann had traveled to Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, France, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, St. Martin, and Hawaii.

Joann leaves behind her husband of 39 years, Fred Maywalt of Oxford; a brother and sister-in-law, Alexander & Darlene Johns of Paxton; a sister and brother-in-law, Annette & Robert Markel of Princeton; nieces and nephews, Michael Johns, Nicole, Andrew, Katherine, Emma and Samuel Hayes, all of Worcester; a niece, Lindsay Markel of New Orleans, a nephew and Godson, Benjamin Markel of Princeton, brother and sister-in-law John and Claire Maywalt of Oxford, and brother-in-law Maurice Poirier of Southbridge. She was predeceased by her mother, Eleanor Johns, mother-in-law Virginia Maywalt, and sister-in-law Ginny Poirier.

Memorial calling hours will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 11:00am in the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date at the discretion of the family. Joann’s family wishes to thank the staff at Rose Monahan Hospice for their exceptional, compassionate care.