Joan Sforza (Josie) Briody passed away at her home in Mt. Gretna on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. She was the wife of the late John S. Briody.

Josie was born in Lebanon, PA on July 22, 1931. She was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Stella A. (Reich) Sforza.

She, her husband, and her children owned and operated numerous businesses in Lebanon County dating back to 1955. Among them were The Tap Room, Tap Room Too, Rachel Fine Cuisine, The Mt. Gretna Playhouse, and Briody’s Bar, which would later become the Mt. Gretna Hideaway.

Josie owned and assisted in the operation of the Timber’s Dinner Theatre in Mt. Gretna until her passing. She was able to live life on her own terms and lived on her own until six weeks before her passing.

Josie is survived by her four children, Bart, Kathleen, Rachel, and Rebecca. She also has two grandchildren, Robert J. Briody and Nicole Briody Roberts.

There are no memorial plans at this time.

Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with the arrangements. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com