Joan M. Nigro

Joan M. “Toots” Nigro, age 76, of New Philadelphia, died Monday, July 4, 2016 following a brief illness.

One of nine children born to the late Harold T. and Charlotte W. (Jenkins) Allman, Joan was a triplet sister to Joyce and Joy.

Joan was a 1957 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and then began working as a telephone company operator. She later moved to Montgomery Ward as a phone operator and retired twice from Massillon Behavioral Center after more than 20 years of service, also as a phone operator.

Joan had a special friendship that withstood the years with the ladies she worked with from the telephone company. Together they enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and treated themselves to various stops at casinos during their adventures. Joan was an avid Neil Diamond fan, a flower gardener, bowler, and swimmer. Joan was extremely fond of the friends she made in her YMCA aqua aerobics class, where they were affectionately known as the “Aqua Babes”.

Additionally, she was a giver. She helped anyone in need and became a second mom to Vicki, Jane, and Sue when her triplet sister, Joyce, died a number of years ago. Above all else, Joan cherished the relationship and time spent with her daughter and son-in-law, as well as spoiling her granddaughters.

Joan will be deeply missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Traci and Nick Keller of Stonecreek; her granddaughters, Paige and Grace Keller; two sisters-in-law, Sue Allman of New Philadelphia and Bobbie Allman of Strasburg, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her sister, Joyce, Joan was preceded in death by her other triplet sister and her last surviving sibling, Joy, who preceded her in death by three days. Her other siblings Jane, Chuck, Marion, Jim, Bob, and Ed also preceded her in death.

A memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 from 4-7PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where a Christian Wake service will begin at 7PM. Fr. Tyron Tomson will celebrate a Memorial Mass in Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00am. A reception will immediately follow Mass in St. Ambrose Hall.

Memorial contributions in Joan’s name may be directed to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or to Sacred Heart Church 139 Third Street NE, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.