Obituary of Joan Cullen Palattella

Joan Cullen Palattella (b. August 20, 1931) of Port Washington, NY died while sleeping peacefully on April 2, 2023. She was 91 years old.

The eldest of four children born to Rita and James Cullen, Joan grew up in Long Island City, Queens. She attended the Julia Richman High School in Manhattan where she excelled in the humanities and developed a lifelong love of learning. At home in Long Island City, it was through Joan’s friend Mary Palattella that she met her future husband, U.S. Navy Veteran John Palattella (1926-2000). Their fifty-year marriage began after a courtship in New York’s ball fields and theaters; the couple loved to dance and travel together throughout their life.

Joan and John took great pleasure and pride in their three daughters and four granddaughters. After a move to Manorhaven in 1959, Joan and John were never far from their Irish and Italian families on Long Island, especially in the Port Washington area. Joan was a eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Fatima and active in the church’s outreach ministry. With her family’s encouragement and support, she earned a bachelor’s degree and graduated summa cum laude from Adelphi University in 1992. Joan was often seen with her grandchildren at the Port Washington Public Library and constantly borrowed and read fiction and non-fiction with a special focus on her Irish heritage. Her bright mind and loving heart will be missed.

Joan is survived by her sister Helen Montani (West Babylon) and brother James Cullen (Northport); daughters Gail Schreiner (Brooklyn), Lisa Palattella (Port Washington), and Laura Palattella (Port Washington); sons-in-law Gary Schreiner and Barry Sherman; and granddaughters Erin McGuirl (Brooklyn), Liza Riddick (Milford, CT), Sylvie Sherman (Los Angeles, CA) and Phoebe Sherman (Washington, DC). Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Fatima in Manorhaven on Wednesday, April 12 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders or The Human Rights Foundation in memory of Joan Palattella.