Joanne Kates Roos, 94, daughter of Charles and Rena Kates and wife of William T. Roos, passed away peacefully the morning of January 2nd, 2026, after a long struggle with dementia.
Joanne and her identical twin sister, Sue Anne, were born and raised in Newport News. Joanne was a lifelong resident of the Virginia Peninsula, barring her time spent away as a Navy wife. She worked alongside her husband for many years as a handbag and gift buyer for her family’s department store, Nachman’s, and later Penn’s Luggage. They closed the store in 1993 to focus on family and travel the world.
Joanne was actively involved in numerous community and philanthropic activities. She took many leadership roles in her community, including serving as president of the UJCVP, President of Temple Sinai, and chair of the committee that brought the Virginia Symphony Orchestra to Newport News. She was an integral part of many Jewish and secular organizations, always keeping the needs of her community at the forefront.
Sadly, Joanne is the last of her generation. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, and brother-in-law. Joanne and Sue Anne remained best friends until Sue Anne’s passing in 2017. She leaves three children, Donna, Linda, and David; three grandchildren, Holly Roos, Billy Cole, and Hannah Cole; and several nieces and nephews to remember her. We hold her in our hearts as a kind and generous person who always put others’ needs before her own. Even through her battle with dementia, she never lost her gentle spirit.
Joanne’s lifelong passion was horses. She had many horses during her life, but her last horse, Quasar, was her favorite. She was able to enjoy him well into her 70s. She had a passion for fox hunting and trail riding and won the Virginia Trail Riders Association 50-mile trail ride on her horse, Will Do, in 1981. She passed her love of horses down to her children and especially to her granddaughter, Hannah, who now enjoys horses of her own.
We would like to thank Dr. Megan B. McGavern and Riverside Hospice for the incredible care they provided. We would also like to thank the caregivers who played a part in keeping her safe and happy in the last years of her life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to Colleen, Brenda, Anika, Chanelle, Tiera, Emma, Jada, Alisa, Lisa Machamer, and Brenda Deuell. Your compassion and unwavering support were invaluable to “Mrs. Jo” and her family alike.
Joanne has completed her final ride in this life. In open fields, alongside patient horses, she found clarity and peace, echoed by the values she lived by – respect, kindness, and compassion for all creatures – these values continue to guide those who loved her.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Sinai, 11620 Warwick Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601, or Cole’s Horse Autism Therapy Station (CHATS) 102 Pawpaw Place, Yorktown, VA 23693.
