Josephine Ann ‘Jo-Ann’ (Imperato) DiNardo, 92

Josephine Ann “Jo-Ann” (Imperato) DiNardo, 92, a dedicated registered nurse and beloved member of the community, died peacefully at her Acton home on April 21, 2025.

She was born on September 7, 1932, in the family home in Tudor Village, Queens, New York, as the daughter of the late James and Madalynne (Insante) Imperato. The oldest of six children, she attended Public School 63 and, later, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Ozone Park, New York. She was regularly given the General Excellence Award. Upon graduation from Nativity School, she was awarded The American Legion Medal in History. In 1946 she entered Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York, on a four-year scholarship. In her senior year she was inducted into The Leo Honor Society. In 1950, she entered the Mary Immaculate Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated as a registered nurse in 1953.

In 1953, she met Anthony Edward DiNardo Jr., and they were married in 1954. Later in life, she married Herbert Halper, who predeceased her in 2014.

For over 50 years, Jo-Ann worked for Emerson Hospital in Acton. which culminated in her role as a nurse manager and director of the transitional care unit. She worked at the hospital until the age of 92, at that time in the surgical intake department. She took immense pride in her work and was highly regarded and admired by her co-workers and patients.

Outside of the hospital, Jo-Ann was very active at the Acton Council on Aging (COA), which held a special place in her heart. She also enjoyed working for the Acton polling stations during elections.

She leaves behind her children, Dr. James DiNardo and his wife Olivia of Harvard; Mary-Jo Gagne and her husband Budd of Chester, New Hampshire; Dr. Laurence DiNardo and his partner Kristen Mehrhof of Richmond, Virginia; Gerard DiNardo of South Riding, Virginia; stepdaughter, Elizabeth McFall and her husband Robert; grandchildren Jason McHale and his wife Stephanie, Gregory McHale and his wife Leanne, Matthew DiNardo and his fiancée Kaylie Gram, and Alexander DiNardo and Isabel DiNardo; and her great grandchild Eleanor Josephine McHale. She was the sister of Dr. Pascal Imperato and his wife Eleanor, Joyce Monteleone, Gerard Imperato and his wife Lylian, Francis Imperato and the late Elissa Meyers. Jo-Ann is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 28, at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Acton. Her funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, at Dee Funeral Home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 am in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Street, Acton. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jo-Ann’s honor may be made to the COA Gift Account by mailing a check payable to “Town of Acton” to 1276 Main Street, Acton, MA 01742.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton.  To share a memory or offer a condolence on Jo-Ann’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.