Joan Claire Papa's Obituary
Joan Claire Papa, age 91, of Lewes, DE, passed away at home on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. She was born on September 2, 1930, in Kansas City, MO, daughter of the late Winston and Genevieve Keim.
Joan was a loving wife of 66 years to William T. Papa (Bill), who passed away in January 2022. She is survived by her children Tom, Joseph, Mary (Gregory), Anne, Gregory, and Julie (Stuart); grandchildren Justin, Sean, Colin (Amy), Rachel, William, and Katharine; great-grandchildren Piper and Calvin; and sister Kathleen.
A graduate of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, Joan married Bill shortly thereafter and dedicated her life to raising their family as Bill’s career with IBM took them to Saugerties, NY; Kailua, HI; and Rockville, MD. Bill and Joan retired to Lewes in 1999.
Joan’s Roman Catholic faith, and in particular her devotion to the Blessed Mother, was profound and fundamental to all aspects of her life. For many years she taught the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, including at St. Jude’s Parish in Lewes. Later in her life she became involved with the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites, Community of Mary, and in June 2022 made her Definitive Promise in a ceremony witnessed by her children and members of the Carmelite community.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at 11:00 AM, at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE, where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine Church Cemetery, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville, DE.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS BY 3:00 PM, MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022, TO OUR LEWES LOCATION.
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