Barbara (Yount) Vitalone
Canandaigua – Barbara Ann Vitalone (Yount), age 86, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026. She is survived by her son, Rocco Mark (Alicia) Vitalone of Monroeville, Pennsylvania; her daughter, Debra (Patrick) Rao of Canandaigua; her brothers-in-law, Salvatore “Sam” Vitalone and Anthony (Annette) Vitalone; her sisters-in-law, Linda Yount (Ludemann) and Rita Vitalone; her niece, Julie (Matt) Pommer; her nephew, Matthew Pommer; and her nine grandchildren, Chelsea Vitalone, Rocco Alexander Vitalone, Nicholas Drapas, Stephanie Drapas, Genevieve Rao, Peter Rao, Chelsea (Vance) Hall, Bailey (Patrick) Toomey, and David (Alicia) Marney. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Rocco J. “Roc” Vitalone, and her brother, Joseph George Yount Jr.
Barbara was born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1939, the daughter of Dr. Joseph George Yount, DDS, and Willamina (Laemlein) Yount. She was a graduate of Canandaigua Academy, Class of 1957, and Nazareth College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in education. Following her graduation, she returned to Canandaigua to marry the love of her life, Rocco, whom she met in homeroom on the first day of their junior year. She then began teaching first grade in the Victor Central School District and later at St. Mary’s School in Canandaigua, New York.
As a young mother, she opened her house and home to her children’s friends who remember her as the provider of after school Pepsi Colas and Doritos and dip. She remained connected to her own Canandaigua Academy classmates as part of the Class of 1957 Reunion Committee. She also assisted her late husband with his Century 21 real estate business. But above all, Barbara was devoted to her family and was a loving wife, mother, and doting grandmother. Her greatest joy was staying connected with her family, especially through regular visits from and phone calls with her children and grandchildren.
Her memorial mass will be celebrated Thursday, June 18, at 11:00 am, at St. Mary’s Church, 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua. Memorial contributions may be made to Light Hill (Canandaigua Comfort Care Home, Inc.), 5160 Parrish St. Ext., Canandaigua, NY 14424 (https://www.lighthillhome.org) or St. Mary’s School, 16 Gibson Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 (https://stmaryscanandaigua.org). Arrangements are by Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home, Inc., Canandaigua. Condolences may be offered at www.johnsonkennedy.com.