Joan Tyler DeLapp

Joan Tyler DeLapp of Falmouth, MA passed away peacefully June 15, 2018. She was born October 27, 1931 in New York City to Walter Arnold Tyler and Carolyn Rodgers Tyler (nee Averbeck). Joan grew up on Staten Island, attending Staten Island Academy and Edgehill School in Nova Scotia. She then earned her degree in economics, magna cum laude from Wheaton College.

After marrying, she brought up her family in Fairfield County, CT, acting as head of the Wilton PTA and as a substitute teacher for a number of years; allowing her time to focus on her greatest pleasure, her children.

Once the children were grown, Joan and her husband split their year between summers in Ashfield, MA and winters on the beach in Westport, CT. Joan worked during this time as a paralegal for a number of firms.

Upon retiring to Gray Gables, MA Joan rediscovered an interest in needlepoint, a skill that garnered her many ribbons at the Barnstable County Fair. More importantly, she found a group of like-minded friends, fondly known as the ‘Stitching Ladies’, who met weekly to pursue their art and solve the problems of the world over a cup of tea and Joan’s latest cookie discovery.

Joan was an enthusiastic cookie baker and jam maker, which she lovingly shared with friends. She enjoyed gardening, with a special passion for roses. Joan was an active volunteer at the Kennedy Rose Garden in Hyannis.

From the vantage point of her porch overlooking the Cape Cod Canal and Mass Maritime, Joan reveled in sunsets and Fourth of July fireworks over Onset Harbor and the varied birds and boat traffic in all seasons.

In the last two years, Joan moved to Heritage in Falmouth where she met a new group of friends and was known for her gracious ways and generous smile for all.

Joan is remembered by her brother, Allan Tyler of Stow, MA; her sister Ann Rudy (Dr. Don) of Glencoe, MN; her children, Timothy (Pamela) Vickers of Mansfield, MA and Emily Vickers of Cambridge, MA. Grandma Joan treasured her grandchildren: Kelly Vickers, Danielle DeLapp (John Wagner), Eliot DeLapp, Keith Villanueva, Timothy Mons and Robert Mons; and was so proud of her great-grandson, Beau. Aunt Joan was loved by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is predeceased by her husband, Winthrop DeLapp, her children, Carolyn Vickers and Henry Vickers and her grandson, Peter Vickers (Michael Crew) and granddaughter, Kaitlynn Griffin.

In lieu of flowers, Joan’s family asks that you remember her love and consider a contribution in her honor to Highfield Hall (www.highfieldhallandgardens.org) in Falmouth, MA or The Trustees of Reservation (www.thetrustees.org).

Visiting hours will be held Saturday, July 7 from 3pm-7pm at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd, Bourne, MA. A celebration of her life will be held in October. To receive notification when plans are finalized, please email [email protected].