JoAnne Roukos Remler
Posted By Families Firstcare On May 12, 2023 @ 11:17 am In Obituaries | 21 Comments
JoAnne Ruth Roukos Remler, 87, passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family on
Thursday, May 11, 2023. Born in Columbia, SC, on November 25, 1935, she was the only child of
Robert Joseph Roukos and Ruth Arledge Roukos. With her husband, Bruce John Remler, to
whom she was married for 66 years, JoAnne raised five children: Robert Bruce Remler, Kelley
Anne Remler White (David), Laurie Ruth Remler Ulmer (Sandy), Brett Anthony Remler (Melissa)
and Stephen Christopher Remler (Nancy).
A 1953 graduate of St. Vincent’s Academy, JoAnne attended Armstrong Junior College until her
marriage.
Though she emphasized her work as a homemaker, JoAnne was employed at various jobs,
starting at thirteen years old, when she drove a delivery truck for her father’s company, Roukos
Dry Cleaners. Prior to her marriage, she worked in the finance department at Armstrong Junior
College; then in the 1990’s she worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Community involvement enabled JoAnne to blend her Catholic faith with her interest in her
children’s education. She served as president of the St. James Catholic School PTA and the
Benedictine Military School PTA. She sang for the St. James Catholic Church choir and later
participated in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church Ladies Club on Tybee Island.
Although she enjoyed her professional, educational and church activities, JoAnne was happiest
with her family. Throughout her life, she embraced her relationships with her Camden, S.C.
cousins, who were as close to her as siblings. Even more important was her role as a wife and
mother. For more than six decades, she supported her husband’s businesses while taking great
joy in raising her children. Though she lived at many addresses in Savannah, she ultimately
called Tybee Island home.
JoAnne enjoyed travel, boat rides, beach picnics and good books. She was talented at arranging
flowers, collecting seashells, and doing crafts. Known for her spirited personality, her oversized
bifocals and enthusiasm for holidays, JoAnne traditionally planned Easter festivities for her
grandchildren, who played backyard games and hunted eggs in fancy hats and oversized plastic
eyeglasses, much like her own. In fact, a friend once said she always knew when JoAnne’s
children were home because she could hear all the laughter, JoAnne’s above the rest.
JoAnne is predeceased by her parents and survived by her husband, her children, her many
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A 5:00 visitation, followed by a 6:00 rosary, will take
place Monday, May 15, 2023 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Tybee Island. A funeral Mass
will be held 11:00 Tuesday morning, May 16, 2023, also at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on
Tybee. In lieu of flowers, friends may send donations to St. Michael’s Catholic Church or St.
Vincent’s Academy, Savannah, GA.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with your sweet family. I didn’t get the chance to meet Ms. JoAnne, but have had the pleasure of becoming friends with her son, Brett. I imagine Brett inherited some of his huge heart from her 🙂
Our love,
Natalie, Karen & Jackson
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Brett! Much love to you all.
Richie
I’m very sorry for the loss of y’all’s mom, wife, grandma, great grandmother and other family and friends, I never got to meet her but she sounds like she was a very special lady. Prayers to you all during this difficult time.
Brett, we are praying for peace and comfort over you and your family during this tremendous loss of your mother. We are here if you need anything. Please do not hesitate to ask. We love y’all.
Jojo accepted me and my daughter into the family and loved her us as her own. Her many laughs, smiles, and and talks we shared will never be forgotten. She always made sure to tell me how proud she was of me and how beautiful my daughter is. I am so glad she got to meet her before heading to heaven. Her memory will never be forgotten. Much love to all the family during this time.
Coming back to Savannah by myself in 2000, she took me in as well. Invited to Christmas dinner at the Dutch Island home and many family functions at Tybee. She was a mama to all and will be dearly missed.
Sending our prayers, heartfelt support, and friendship to you and your family. May the precious memories of your Mother sustain you through this difficult time. Please be assured that she will live forever within your hearts. Jim & Judy Gibson
Brett, I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your mom. My heart goes out to you the family. Sending lots of love, hugs and prayers my sweet friend.
So sorry for the loss of aunt Joanne. A bigger than life spirit with an infectious laugh. Always at the center of any gathering. I will always remember the stories she told and the more often than not laughter they brought. I’m confident they are being retold to others we miss in that place that is promised to us all. Until we meet again aunt Joanne, you are gone from our sight but not from our hearts. Well done good and faithful servant. Blessings,
Aunt Joanne will be missed so much , I remember she was always dressed perfect and matching glasses . She loves her wine and as I grew up so did I !! One more glass 🍷🍷🍷The Beach House , ping bong , reunions gatherings at the yacht club !!! Another Angel in Heaven . Love you , say hello to the family for us ❤️❤️❤️What a great life
Sending my love and condolences to the entire Remler family on the passing of their matriarch. I can’t help but recall those fall Saturdays in Athens and the many other get-togethers that I shared with the Remler clan, where Mrs Remler always made everyone feel welcome. Brett’s parents (Bruce and JoJo) were always the life of the party and we all saw where Brett inherited his social easiness from.
Hugs and comfort to all of you in this most difficult time but not letting the grief of her passing, overshadow the many happy memories that she left with us all.
Very fond memories of Mrs. Remler during the years I had at BC with Brett and the class of 81. She was super kind to all of us and I always remember her for that.
Deepest condolences to the Remler family. Thoughts and prayers.
Jo Jo was the kind of person that drew people to her. She was always full of happiness and always the life of a get together. She was a friend no matter how long she knew you. JoJo and my mom were such good friends and I always heard her talking to HONEY on my moms recorder. She even befriended the voice of the answering machine. Yes, she was a friend but to me she was a second mom!! Enjoy Heaven but we miss your smile already!! RIP JoAnne Remler.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs Remler. I was blessed to cross paths several times when with Brett – both the Tybee beach house and in Athens. She was a very kind and warm person who immediately made you feel welcomed and comfortable. I am sure many others had this pleasure as well in during her long journey here on earth. My favorite memory of course is the first time I met her – at a Georgia – Clemson football game where she and Bruce hosted my parents in Athens during my college years. What a wonderful long lasting memory. May she rest in peace.
Although this world will mourn the passing of Mrs Remler, heaven gained a new and bright light. I can only imagine the laughter and celebration amoung all of our family members up there. Out of all of the parents of my friends , seeing Mrs R was always an uplifting and fun visit. I will always remember her joy cause it brought me joy too. Thank you for making me feel like family everytime I saw you.
JoJo/Mrs. Remler was a wonderful, funny and loving lady. Her spirit and company was something you always wanted to be around. She was one of my mother Claire’s best friends and I am so blessed that I am one of her sons Brett’s best friends. JoJo will always be loved and never forgot by anyone who met her. Her family should be so proud of her !❤️
I first met Mrs. Remler through her son, my great friend Brett, during our college days, probably on our way to Jacksonville to see our Dawgs whip the hated Gators. I liked her from the first minute. She was witty, vivacious, kind and could not have been more welcoming to all the kids who descended upon her and “Brucie.” On subsequent visits, it was always the same — never a dull moment and a joy to be around and call a friend.
My mother had a term she saved for very special people in her life, such as our longtime pastor and her favorite aunts: “grand.” You had to be the creme de la creme to merit that status.
JoAnn Remler was one grand lady.
So very sorry for your loss. I only met your precious Mother once, but it was obvious she loved her family and will be sorely missed by them and many, many friends as well.
Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mrs Remler was one of a kind. This was such a beautiful tribute to her. She will be missed. May she rest in peace. God bless you all
My wife and I never had the privilege of meeting Joanne Remler personally. However, her wit and humor were known to us by her son, Brett Remler.
We always say that we live through our children. Such is the case with JoAnne Remler.
We have been friends of Brett for some twenty five years. We are also blessed with the friendship of his wife, Melissa.
A testament to Joanne Remler is shown daily to the world by Brett. He exemplifies all that a parent would smile and be pleased with. Honest, great sense of humor, compassionate in his life and competent in his everyday business life.
Thank you for being the person that you were, JoAnne. Your influence in the world will live on.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Remler family.
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So sorry for your loss. Always was great being around Mrs. Remler, her energy was contagious.