Joanne M. Castagnera-Cain

Joanne “Joey” Cain was the best friend for 60 years and wife for 54 years of Dr. James Ottavio Castagnera-Cain of Havertown (PA). She and her husband shared two accomplished children --- Marc James Castagnera, a stock trader with Kepler Cheuvreux in Manhattan, and Claire Castagnera Holland, a freelance writer and published poet living in Burbank, California. Joey and Jim also have one grandchild, Antonia.

A graduate of Millersville University and Cleveland State University, she was a K-5 reading teacher of exceptional enthusiasm, ability and creativity, who served the final 18 years of a long career with the Upper Darby (PA) school district.

The core principle of Joey’s distinguished teaching career was drawn from the writings of theologian Carl Buechner: “They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel.” This dictum informed her teaching philosophy, beginning with her Master’s Thesis, which focused on the centrality of students’ self-image and self-esteem to their success in mastering such fundamental skills as reading and writing. 

As a master teacher, in the latter half of her career she worked both with challenged and with gifted students, incorporating cutting edge techniques and strategies into her pedagogy. She taught at Primus Elementary School into her early seventies.

She also was a wise and loving parent, stalwart and supportive spouse, and skilled homemaker.

During the last 12 years of her life, Joey Cain battled a rare, incurable disease, carcinoid syndrome, which finally won that battle on October 10, 2024. She passed away peacefully, leaving behind ---in addition to her husband, two children, and granddaughter--- a brother, Frank, and two sisters, Julie and Helene, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Friends and relatives wishing to honor Joey should direct their gifts to Penn Medicine’s Neuroendocrine Tumor Team at the Abramson Cancer Center - https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/types-of-cancer/neuroendocrine-tumors/team