Jo Ann (Judit) Katzenstein Bloom October 20, 1935 – December 20, 2025

Jo Ann Bloom, 90, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at her Lake Mary, Florida home following a lengthy illness. Jo Ann was born October 20, 1935, in New York City, New York to the late Robert and Rose (Sakofsky) Katzenstein of blessed memory. Jo Ann was a retired teacher and guidance counselor and was also a talented artist, a voracious reader, and a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her husband Gerald (Jerry) raised their three children in various states spanning the country: Texas; Hawaii; Washington; Massachusetts; Florida; New Mexico; and Kentucky. After Jerry’s retirement in 1997, they moved to the Lake Mary, Florida area.

Jo Ann devoted her life to family, travel, children, and the arts. Throughout their moves to all corners of the United States, Jo Ann made sure that her family was well adjusted in each new location and developed deep friendships everywhere she went. While living in Florida, she co-founded the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts in 1967, and the organization still exists today. In Louisville, Jo Ann turned her love of reading into the co-launching of a successful used paperback bookstore called BookEnds. Jo Ann and Jerry traveled extensively throughout their married life including visiting every continent. She always said that she was blessed with a wonderful, exciting, and fulfilling life.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Gerald Bloom of Lake Mary, Florida, loving children Lisa (David) Harris of Memphis, Tennessee, Julie Glass of New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Michael (Lisa) Bloom of Brentwood, Tennessee; beloved grandchildren Randall (Lydia) Harris, Evan (Catherine) Harris, Jacob (Alexandra) Harris, Matthew Bloom, Allison Bloom, Sarah (Carter) Woolly, Erin Wright, and Kelly Wright; and great grandchildren Gabriel Harris, Elijah Harris, and Abigail Harris.

The Internment Service will be a private family event to be held at the All Faiths Memorial Park Cemetery in Casselberry, Florida. May she rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or a charity of the donor’s choice. The family will be sitting Shiva on January 19th and 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Jerry’s home, 1188 Royal Gardens Circle, Lake Mary, Florida

Service entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida, 407-599-1180.