Joan Ann Stengel McDermott

Joan Ann McDermott was born on March 29, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She passed away peacefully on April 7, 2016 in Newark, Delaware at the age of 81. Joan was the second of three children born to Joseph and Catherine Stengel.

As a young woman she graduated from Little Flower High School and began a family of her own. Joan had four children, Virginia, Katherine, Jozefa and Roman “Ray”. After her children were grown she moved away from Philadelphia to the Dominican Republic to exchange the hustle and bustle of the city for white sandy beaches and a bright shining sun. She enjoyed several years in this paradise before returning to the states to be with her family.

Over the years Joan loved to travel. She was a loving and adventurous person who enjoyed planning trips with her friends and family. Joan spoke fondly of visiting the Caribbean, Egypt, Hawaii, cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and perhaps her favorite trip of all was one she took to Italy with her granddaughter. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and liked to walk with the ladies from the Senior Center’s Walking Group.

Our most cherished memories are of her sharing stories of whitewater rafting with the Girl Scouts and what her life was like when she lived in the Dominican Republic. We will always remember her cooking to Pink Floyd music as well as countless nights playing cards, rummy cube, Uno and board games. She was loved very much and we’ll miss her caring heart and wonderful sense of humor.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Catherine Stengel; brother Joseph Stengel; son Roman “Ray” McDermott; daughter Jozefa Smith.

Joan is survived by her daughters Virginia (Rich) Loos and Katherine (Francis) Ciarlante; granddaughters Shauna (Tony) Sophy, Shevonne Wells, Shannon Wells, Jessica Smith, Emily Smith and Katie Ciarlante; great-granddaughter Gabrielle Mc Camy; brother Arthur Stengel.

A visitation will begin at 10:00am on Thursday, April 21, 2016 with a Memorial Mass to follow at 11:00am in Holy Family Catholic Church, 15 Gender Rd., Newark, DE 19713. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105.