Joan Piot

Joan Patricia Piot
March 17, 1929 – December 2, 2025

Joan Patricia Piot, 96, of Suwanee, Georgia, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Joan lived a life rich in love, faith, and generosity.

She was born on March 17, 1929, in Bronx, New York, to Italian immigrant parents who arrived at Ellis Island from Palermo, Italy, in 1913 - a heritage she carried with great pride throughout her life. From an early age, she was tenacious and resilient. At the age of 18, she worked as a switchboard operator and page for a Manhattan law firm on 44th Street. She later held positions at Stouffer's in New York and the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, demonstrating a strong work ethic and a vibrant spirit.

In 1957, she met the love of her life, Lester William Piot (Les). Their marriage, which lasted over 50 years, was a source of enduring joy, love, and strength. She worked with Les in his auto services business for almost 20 years. They enjoyed traveling, entertaining, spending time with family, and their Dealer 20 groups who were lifelong friends.

Joan’s passions included Italian cooking, entertaining, gardening, politics, classic movies, and playing Bridge well into her 90’s. She was actively involved in Bible study and when younger loved volunteering with the Assistance League of Birmingham. Her sense of style was impeccable; she took great delight in her style even into her 90s. Above all, Joan was a woman of strong family values, faith, and the American way. Her greatest joy was her family. She especially adored her grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, and was a loving, unforgettable grandmother and aunt. She leaves behind a legacy of gratitude, faith, perseverance, strength, patriotism and humor.

Joan is survived by her eight children: Jim Piot and wife Marilee of Dallas, Texas; Bob Piot and wife Barbara of Corona del Mar, California; Joanne Kurt of Boston, Massachusetts; Tom Wallek of Las Vegas, Nevada; Laurie Owens and husband Phil of Dallas, Texas; Kim Roman and husband John of Alpharetta, Georgia; Leslie Leath and husband Jim of Suwanee, Georgia; Jon Piot and wife Susan of Dallas, Texas.
She leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lester; her parents; three brothers; and two sisters.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at McDonald & Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Dr, Cumming, GA with a reception immediately following. A private family interment will take place the day before at Georgia National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham), an organization close to Joan’s heart.