CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

Joanne Bechtold

Everyone knew Joanne’s top priority: her family always came first. Regardless of how late her daughters were out, they’d find the house lights coming on and the garage door opening when they pulled into the driveway. A helicopter mom before that was a thing. And Nana took it to a new level with the grandkids; they adored her. She loved doing crafts, a regular at the Library Craft club. For Christmas, everyone in the family worked with her to create dozens of handmade ornaments. She made lots of ceramics over the years. Most she gave away to family and friends. Sometimes they wanted them, other times she softly cajoled them into taking them with a smile and a “Don’t you want this?” If her T.V was on she’d be checking out the Hallmark Channel and Jeopardy. Sundays found her wearing Eagles green, a true-blue fan; she never forgot her Roxborough roots. You couldn’t stop the girl from shopping: if she left the area, she’d most likely be heading out to the outlets and Sam’s Club was always on the grandkids things to do list. Even as she battled cancer, she was planning on heading back to work. Hundreds of people are walking around today thanks to her tireless work as a dosimetrist at Crozier, Penn and Inspira Vineland, figuring out treatment programs for cancer. Her Sirius was always tuned to The Highway, her favorite color was yellow and her tastes seldom strayed from spaghetti with marinara, chicken and pizza.
Through a friend she’d meet a handsome guy named Jim. The two would share a 40-year marriage blessed by daughters, Melissa (Christopher Jr.) Dill and Ashley (Raymond Jr) Palmer; and two grandchildren, Sadie and Christopher III.
Come celebrate 65 great years Sunday 2-4 p.m. and Monday 9-10 a.m. at Daley Life Celebration Studio where there will be a 4 p.m. Sunday Storytime service. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday 10:30 a.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St. Joseph Church, Swedesboro. Interment All Saints Cemetery, Newfield.