Joanne Pettit

Joanne Shipley Pettit, long-time DeWitt resident and inveterate gardener, reader and traveler died peacefully at her home on January 24, 2026, following a brief illness. She was 87.

She was born on July 22,1938 in Syracuse and would eventually share that day of birth with her daughter Susan, which led to many shared celebrations throughout the years.

While some viewed Central New York’s winters as a time for hibernation, Joanne viewed them as a scheduling conflict. For over thirty years, she led an annual migration to Puerto Vallarta, where she and her husband Ric enjoyed the sun, sand and many memorable moments with friends and family.

Her travelling bug extended equally to Spain, where she often spent the springtime visiting her son and his family. And though the Spanish language eluded her, she was not defeated in her efforts to communicate and embrace local customs. Her ever-present smile was more often than not enough to break through the language barrier. It was through her many trips in Europe, South America and Mexico that she came to pass on to her family the timeless wisdom: ‘It’s all about the food!’

In her beloved neighborhood and in her house on Dewittshire Road, Joanne found joy tending to her stunning gardens, and she could frequently be spotted at many of the nurseries and farmer’s markets throughout the Syracuse area. In her youth she was a member of the Junior League and later became a long-standing member of the Syracuse Garden Club. Her passion for reading also led her to become a formidable presence in her neighborhood book club.

For many years she managed her husband’s dental office, where she and Ric delicately sidestepped the difficulties of sharing both work and home spaces and responsibilities.

Joanne was deeply woven into the fabric of St. David’s Episcopal Church where she especially loved the yearly Celebration of the Arts and in later years was a fixture at the 8 a.m. service on Sundays.

She is survived by her loving husband, Eric O. Pettit, DDS; her children, Kelly Smith Dellas, Trajan A. Shipley IV (Paula), and Susan Frances Gage (Wayne); and her step-children, Lisa Pettit, Wendy Howells (James), and Eric Pettit (Lauri).

This summer’s wedding of her granddaughter Mary Frances Gage allowed her to enjoy time with many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they include: Casey and Audrey Dellas; Major Mackenzie Gage (USMC) and his wife Megan; Timothy Gage; Mary Frances Gage and her husband Isaac Mosebrook; and Trajan A. (V) and Emma Shipley Gozalo. She was also the delighted great-grandmother to Elenor, Kenneth, and Sheperd.

Joanne is survived by her brother, Richard “Dick” Young (Chris), and was preceded in death by her previous husband Trajan A. Shipley III, siblings Nancy Hennesy, and William, Jack, and Edward Young. She also joins her mother, beloved "Gram" to all of the family.

A memorial service and inurnment at St. David’s will be held at a later date, once the ground has thawed and the spring planting season she so loved has begun.

In lieu of sending flowers to the family, they suggest a tribute Joanne would truly appreciate: purchase a vibrant bouquet of fresh flowers to enjoy in your own home, or plant something beautiful in your yard this spring to remember her by.

The family also wishes to thank the caregivers and friends who ensured her final days were spent in comfort and dignity.