Mrs. Joan "Tossi" A. Salerno, 77, of Deerfield, passed away on Thursday January 27, 2011, due to complications from injuries sustained in an automobile accident last mother's day. Her loving family was by her side at the time of her passing. Joan was born February 26, 1933 in Jersey City, NJ the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Saile) Wentka. She was raised in Utica, attended Kernan grade school and was a graduate of Utica Free Academy. On November 25, 1950, Joan married Paul "Jim" Salerno at St. Patrick's Church in Utica, a devoted union of 33 years until Paul's death in 1983. For many years she was employed as senior account clerk with Oneida County Civil Service retiring in 1991. Joan was a longtime devout parishioner of St. Mark's Church in N. Utica. She was a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society and St. Mark's Rosary Group. Joan was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and received her greatest joy spending time with her family. Mrs. Salerno is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Tina and Mike Zarnock of Deerfield; daughter-in-law, Lynette Salerno and her fiancé Raymond Centollela both of N. Utica; five cherished grandchildren, Christopher Zarnock of MD, Cody Zarnock of Deerfield, Craig Salerno and his wife Jenna of Mechanicsville, NY, Becki Salerno and her fiancé Mike Pepperine of N. Utica and Valerie Salerno of New Hartford; three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard and Dee Hance of Utica, Anthony and Eleanor Salerno of Utica and Tom and Jenny Sharpe of Marcy; six great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and her two beloved dogs, Mudge and Sniffles. She was predeceased by her son, Paul Salerno in 2006 and grandson, Jeff Salerno in 1992. Mrs. Salerno's funeral will be held on Monday January 31, 2011 at 9:15 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Rd., N. Utica and 10:00 at St. Mark's Church where her Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Yorkville. Calling hours for family and friends are Sunday from 4:00-7:00 p.m.