Obituary of Jo Anne Ditch

Jo Anne Ditch, of Sykesville, Maryland, passed away at the age of 85 on March 27, 2022.

She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 17, 1936 and married Frances X. Aiello in 1952, with whom she had five (5) children. Jo Anne had a lifelong love for Italian culture and maritime pursuits. She helped to promote and organize various Italian festivals at Rash Field and during our nation's Bicentennial she helped to organize the tall ships coming into Baltimore Harbor and Fells Point. In 1983 she became Baltimore City's first female Dockmaster, a position she held for 15 years.

Jo Anne married W. Scott Ditch, III in 1989 and during their marriage they traveled across Europe and shared their love of entertaining at their home in Royal Oak, Maryland, until his death in 2009.

In 2011, Jo Anne moved to Sykesville, Maryland to be closer to her family in Carroll County.

Jo Anne Ditch is survived by her children, Luigina "Gigi" deVosjoli; Karen Steele; Frances X. "Budgie" Aiello, Jr.; Louis Michael Aiello; and Joanne "Sissy" Roberts; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; her brother, Dennis Chrisman; and her beloved West Highland Terrier, Jack.

Visitation will be held at Loudon Park Funeral Home, 3620 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21229 on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 12:00 pm with a funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Loudon Park Cemetery at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Associated Italian American Charities at mdaiac.com