Joann kiesel

JoAnn "Gigi" Kiesel, 92, of Oxford, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2020. Gigi was born in New York, NY, daughter of the late Thomas and Josephine (Nelson) Watson. Gigi was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Sidney Watson, Thomas Watson, and Jack Watson. She was also predeceased by her sister and brother in laws Mary and Frank Palermo, Agnes and Walter Lehner, and William Rogoza, and her beloved best friends Gertrude "Giggie" Evans and Lee Brown.
Gigi is survived by her husband Charles "Poppy" Kiesel, her daughter Holly (Paul) Cirello and her son Steven (Kellie) Kiesel. Gigi is also survived by her sister Gwen Watson, her grandchildren Kate Cirello, Brianna Kiesel, and Ona Kiesel, her sister in laws Alice Kiesel and Dorothy Rogoza, her caregiver Betsy Faucher and several loving nieces and nephews.
While in her 20's Gigi loved working on Wall Street as an executive secretary in the financial district. After her career on Wall Street Gigi moved to Long Island where she worked in employment recruitment for Grumman Aircraft. While living in Long Island she met the love of her life and future husband Charles Kiesel. Gigi and Charles married in 1964 and moved to Seaford, NY where they lived on the water and enjoyed spending time on their boat. They also enjoyed their country retreat which they built in Oxford, NY that would later become their forever home. Their family grew with the adoption of their daughter Holly and shortly after with the adoption of their son Steven. Gigi enjoyed her role as a stay-at-home mom and after her children grew older kept busy by supporting the Oxford Community. Gigi most enjoyed working alongside Charles as judges for the Odyssey of the Mind program for over 20 years. She was an avid reader, traveler, enjoyed needle-point, and made the absolute best apple pie.
She will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Gigi's Memory can be made out to the Oxford Food Pantry C/O Marv Hamstra 623 Wilcox Road, Oxford, Ny 13830. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Behe Funeral Home Inc. 21 Main Street, Oxford, NY. A private funeral mass will be held on Friday, August 21, 2020 followed by a private committal service. Friends and family may share memories and condolences by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com