JoAnn Marie Osoro

JoAnn, (AKA Mom, Nonna, Grandma) the last person of her generation from the Osoro and Massa families, left us peacefully in the early afternoon on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Born on December 24, 1929, to Italian immigrant parents George and Dorata Massa in Bingham Canyon, Utah, JoAnn spent her early years in Highland Boy, a diverse mining community she cherished deeply.

She graduated from Bingham High School in 1948 and worked at the Bingham Mercantile before marrying the love of her life, Edward “Eddie” Osoro, on July 9, 1949. Together, they shared fifty-five years of marriage until his passing in 2004. In 1956, JoAnn and Eddie moved to Copperton, Utah, where she lived in their family home for the past 69 years. She was also a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Copperton, where her faith provided both strength and community.

Family was JoAnn’s greatest joy. She was a loving wife, mother to Sharon (Clay) Butterfield and Marie Jimas; grandmother to six — Jennine (Blake), Chad (Coralee), Eddy, Greg, Courtney, and Andy; great-grandmother to five — Chelsea (Michael), Ethan (Kylie), Aaron, Marlee, and Luciano; and great-great-grandmother to one, Finn. She poured her love into each generation, always ready with a story, a meal, or a hug.
She was happiest being in her home, where she created a space filled with love, laughter, and acceptance. Her kitchen nook became the heart of the house — a place where family and friends gathered to reminisce about the “good old days”, play cards, celebrate holidays and birthdays, and share delicious homemade meals. No one ever left her home empty-handed; she always sent you off with a goodie bag.

JoAnn loved to cook and bake foods from many cultures — her povitica, spaghetti, chorizos, and sarmas were family favorites that connected generations. After years as a devoted stay-at-home mother and caretaker for her own mother, JoAnn began working at Bingham High School (later Bingham Junior High) for 21 years. She took pride in her work as a “lunch lady” and later as a cashier, enjoying the friendships of her coworkers and the students.

Preceded in death by her husband Eddie; parents; sister Eugenia (Bob) Cochran; brothers Pete (Patsy) Massa and George Jr. (Gloria and Yvonne) Massa; and son-in-law Steve Jimas. She is survived by her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchild, and nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
A special thank you to her neighbors, the Hatley and Vasquez families, for being her guardian angels and watching over her for many years

Funeral services will be held at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East on Thursday, August 28. Visitation at 10 a.m. with funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Complimentary valet parking will be provided. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 4th Ave. & “T” St. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to JoAnn’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Hospital.