Joanne Teresa Giles

Joanne Teresa Giles (nee Schneider), 91, of Baldwin Borough, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Asbury Heights, Mt. Lebanon, PA. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who have known her throughout her long life. Joanne was born on October 14, 1933 at her grandparents’ home in Mt. Troy, Pittsburgh, PA. She was the first of two children born to the late Lawrence Herman Schneider and Teresa Frances Wittman of Baldwin Borough. She grew up during post-depression years, World War II and was a member of “The Silent Generation.” As the matriarch of the family and a practicing Roman Catholic throughout her life, Joanne instilled in her family love of God and love of family. She always strived to be a role model for her children. Throughout her life she demonstrated by example. She attended elementary school at St. Norbert’s, junior high school at St. Frances Academy and eventually attended Baldwin High School graduating in 1951. Bright and energetic, she applied her secretarial skills at Bell Telephone as a service representative until 1957. She met James E. Giles on a blind date and they were married in 1956. Together they began a family and had four children, of which she liked to say two were planned and two were pleasant surprises. She was a loving mother who enjoyed being a housewife and homemaker, often making many of the clothes for her growing family. Joanne was active in Baldwin Women’s Civic Club as an officer and as a supporter of Miss Jean Dance School. She also volunteered for the South Baldwin Little League by helping with and operating the concession stand at Leland Field. In 1969 she returned to the workforce, where she was employed in the datacenter of Mellon Bank. In 1989 she was promoted to Assistant Officer of the Telecommunications Services department until her retirement in 1996. In May of 1990, her husband James passed away after a lengthy battle with heart disease. Joanne’s strength and resilient nature helped her through her grief at this difficult time. Work, volunteering and family became her main focus. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially at holidays. At Christmas she delighted in packing boxes full of toys, clothes and goodies for each grandchild. She was also thrilled to become a great-grandmother later in life. After retiring in 1996, she continued to be energetic and active. Her calendar was often full of activities. She participated and volunteered in a number of organizations, such as the Mellon VIPs, Operation Troop Appreciation, bowling leagues, St. Germaine’s Church Choir, Widows Club and more. She enjoyed traveling, taking bus trips, vacationing with her children and visiting her daughter in Delaware. Throughout her life she was an avid reader and supporter of the local library. She knitted, crocheted and sewed, and loved to play Bingo, often 2 to 3 times a week. Later in life she was a passionate genealogist, spending many hours researching and sharing her family’s ancestry and history with her children. Joanne was predeceased by her husband James in 1990, her mother Teresa in 1978, her father Lawrence in 1980, and son-in-law James D. Miller in 2005. She is survived by her loving children, Teresa Miller, James Giles Jr., Joanne (Jerry) Rufft and Richard (Beth) Giles; brother, Lawrence (Judy) Schneider; nine grandchildren, Christine Miller, Jennalee (Mike) Fede, Laura Miller, Jason Rufft, Dean Miller, Katie Giles, Andrew Giles, Aiden Giles and Rylan Giles; two great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Sebastian Fede. Friends received Wednesday, March 5, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the GRIFFITH FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5636 Brownsville Road, (at 6th St.) South Park Twp. (412) 655-4600. Funeral prayer Thursday, March 6 at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Hope Parish - St. Germaine Church at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joanne’s name to Operation Troop Appreciation, 2017 Pennsylvania Ave., West Mifflin, PA 15122 or online at operationtroopappreciation.org.

Joanne Teresa Giles

October 14, 1933 - March 1, 2025