Joanne Marie "Wana" Potts

Joanne Marie “Wana” Potts (née Quinn) Joanne Marie Potts, lovingly known to her family as Wana, passed away leaving behind a lifetime of love, laughter, good food, card games, Buffalo Bills football, cruises, casino adventures, and—most importantly—a family who was the center of her entire world. Joanne was born in North Tonawanda, New York, to Sylvia and Joseph Quinn. She was the beloved older sister of Joseph Quinn and his wife, Diane Quinn, and leaves behind numerous extended family members and friends who loved her dearly. Joanne was an avid reader of obituaries. She read them regularly and, like any good obituary critic, had strong opinions about them. One of her frequent complaints was when an obituary failed to list the cause of death. Unfortunately, we really can't tell you. Joanne lived with Alzheimer's disease during the final three years of her life. While Alzheimer's took away pieces of the woman we knew and loved, something else ultimately caused her body to give out. Despite the efforts to determine what was happening, we never received a definitive diagnosis. And yes, Mom, we realize this is exactly the kind of obituary omission you would have complained about. We wish we could give you—and everyone else—a better answer. But sometimes there simply isn't one. What we do know is that Joanne was surrounded by love, and that the last chapter of her life cannot diminish the many decades that came before it. Joanne met the love of her life, Edward “Ted” Potts Sr., on a blind date. While most people might have needed some time to decide how they felt, Joanne apparently had the whole thing figured out immediately. She knew Ted was “the one.” Ted, however, was apparently not in quite as much of a hurry. He made Joanne wait several weeks for their second date because he went off on a long camping trip with the Boy Scouts. Joanne didn't mind. She already knew.Thankfully, Ted eventually caught up. Together, they built a life centered around family, love, laughter, and countless memories. Joanne began her adult life as a nurse, but when her first child was born, she chose to leave her career to devote herself to raising her family. She never regretted that decision. Her children and family were her greatest joy and her greatest accomplishment. Joanne loved being a mother. She loved being a grandmother even more—and becoming a great-grandmother gave her yet another generation to love, spoil, and keep an eye on. She is survived by her children: Edward “Ted” Potts Jr. and his wife, Carrie Anne, and their children Abigail Todaro and her husband, Michael Todaro; Christopher Potts; and Sarah Potts. Susan Owens and her husband, Thomas Owens, and their children Thomas Owens and his wife, Jeanne Jung; Andrew Owens; and Lizzie Owens. Kristen Noonan and her husband, Matthew Noonan, and their children Bridget Medlin and her husband, Collin Medlin, and their son Carter; and Meghan Noonan. Jennifer Argenio and her husband, Anthony, and their children Julianna Argenio, Dominic Argenio, and Nicholas Argenio. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Diane Quinn, as well as numerous extended family members and friends. Joanne treasured every one of them. She loved spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren and took great pride in watching each of them grow into the people they became. And she had the special joy of becoming a great-grandmother. Joanne was fond of reminding people that she was “more than a pretty face.” And she was absolutely right. She was a woman with a warm personality, a generous heart, a quick wit, and opinions that she was more than happy to share. But for all of her humor and personality, Joanne had a simple way of expressing her deepest love. “Be safe.” She said it to her children. She said it to her grandchildren. She said it whenever someone walked out the door, got in a car, went on a trip, or did just about anything that might cause a mother to worry. “Be safe” was Joanne's way of saying: I love you. I'm thinking about you. Please take care of yourself. And please come back home. Those two words will forever sound like her. Joanne was also a firm believer in the power of random acts of kindness. She believed that small gestures could make someone's day, and that kindness was something worth giving freely and expecting nothing in return. So, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do something Joanne would have appreciated: perform a random act of kindness for someone else. Pay for someone's coffee. Help a stranger. Check in on a friend. Give someone a reason to smile. Do something kind simply because you can. Then, when you're done, raise a glass and toast Joanne. To Wana. To Mom. To Grammie. To a life well lived. It was Joanne's firm wish to not have a funeral, and instead, to have a party. A true celebration of life will be held later this year.