Joni Alane Maliszewski

Graduate of Winthrop High School, Class of 1974

Joni Alane (Hardwick) Maliszewski passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family on October 29, 2026, after a five-year fight with stage IV lung cancer. Joni is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Lance Maliszewski, her sister, June (Hardwick) Broyles, along with her daughters, Alison (Maliszewski) Brooks, husband, Noah and children, Elena (4) and Levi (1) and Dana (Maliszewski) McGowan, husband, Micah and children, Roman (10) and Lennox (7). She also was preceded in death by her parents, James Hardwick and Jean (Hardwick) Hansen, and younger sister, Jill (Hardwick) Stevens, and is remembered by countless cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews near and far, not to mention the thousands of friends and acquaintances who have met her or known her.

Joni had the gift of keeping in touch with so many people throughout her whole life, and of never, ever meeting a stranger. She would talk to anyone, was so genuine when she shared stories with others, and served as the historian and glue that cemented her family together. She was always quick to bring a meal or a homemade dessert to anyone in need and loved planning special events—be that a school fundraiser, holiday gathering, a 5 a.m. Royal Wedding party, or her infamous Snowman lunch. She never forgot a birthday and was a prolific card-writer. She loved people and treated everyone like family.

She was an AVID sports fan who loved the Olympics, March Madness College basketball, the New England Patriots, and most especially her UConn Huskies. She loved the humanity of sports and was always cheering for the underdog and the home team. She had the biggest heart and touched countless lives.

Joni was born in Ohio to James Hardwick and Jean (Boudrow) Hardwick, but grew up on Shirley Street in Winthrop, a home which backed up to her maternal grandmother’s house—her Nana, Alice Boudrow. She would soon be joined by her two little sisters, Jill and June, as well as 15 more younger cousins! Joni always took the role of “eldest cousin” very seriously and her maternal cousins, connected by the five Boudrow siblings, are always “Boudrow Strong” and have stayed incredibly tight throughout the years.

Winthrop is also where she would make some of her best friends, especially her “second family,” the Rossi family, who lived right next door. Her best friend by far was Joanne Rossi, who was a constant in her life from first grade on. In 2013 those two even got to fulfill a lifelong dream of Joni’s with a two week trip to New Zealand to celebrate 50 years of friendship. The “Basic Jo’s,” as they were known. had the kind of friendship that grew with all the seasons of life, the kind we all should be so lucky to have.

A proud alumnus of Winthrop High School, Joni was always full of school spirit and was heavily involved in school life, from cheerleading to committees, and was voted Most School Spirit (female) her senior year and graduated in 1974. She was able to reconnect with many schoolmates at class reunions—even discovering how many of them had secret crushes on her in high school—and at a special 70th birthday party thrown by her husband, Lance, in Winthrop this past March. She continued to keep this group present in her life even while on hospice through social media, texts, cards, and especially a regular group video conference that Lance set up for her. Her life was full and rich, and we hope you will read her full obituary online at https://www.williamsonmemorial.com/obituaries/joni-maliszewski

Her viewing was held at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 3 from 4–8 p.m. and service on Wednesday, November 4 at 11 a,m. The service was also livestreamed for anyone unable to join, and her husband, Lance also plans to have a memorial in Winthrop for Joni around her birthday in 2027. In Lieu of flowers, Joni would love donations to her favorite charities: The Hope Clinic for Women, the Gary Sinise Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or 5 Stones Church. A mom and caregiver to the end, she also specifically wants to remind everyone to make sure you take care of yourself and get regular cancer screenings.