Joan J. Hill, age 88, of Wilmington, DE passed away peacefully after a short illness on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
She was born and raised in Wilmington, DE and is the daughter of the late Stella M. (Ruta) and William J. Janulewicz. Joan graduated from P.S. Dupont High School in 1955 and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Delaware in 1959. During her time at UD, she was active in women’s basketball and tennis. She spent the summer time of her college years living in Lewes, DE while she nannied for the Beebe family children.
After graduating from UD, she began her teaching career at Carrcroft Elementary School and remained there from 1959 to 1971. In 1971 she dedicated herself completely to her newborn son, Steven, and the love of her life, her husband David. Although she loved teaching, her most cherished career was her life with her family. Joan was an avid tennis player with a passion for the game and enjoyed playing at the DuPont Country Club and the Bellevue State Park Tennis Center until the age of 70. Vacations were always spent at the beach–Wildwood Crest NJ, Bermuda, York Beach Maine and Virginia Beach. She found serenity with her feet in the warm sand and the calming sound of the ocean, while eating a sandwich, drinking a Pepsi and reading a novel. Along with being a member of the DuPont Country Club, she was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church where she married David in 1965.
She was a confident, wise, patient and loving person. 88 wonderful years of being the best at everything that she could be….Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Aunt and Friend to all. She will be forever remembered for her great love and support of her entire family; and, for the love and admiration others had for her.
Her husband of 54 years, David A. Hill, died in 2019. They were the perfect couple. They loved everything about each other. They loved their home. They loved their son and his family. They loved their family, friends and neighbors. They were grateful for everything that they had, and never once wanted for more–they had it all. They were completely content.
Joan will be dearly missed by her son Steven Hill and his wife Heather Hill; grandchildren Brooke Hill and Kyle Hill; sister Dorothy Sterling, sister-in-law Kathryn Stanitski of MA; brother/sister-in-law Michael Hill and wife Sue Hill of CA; nieces and nephews, Karyn, JB, Michael, Ann, John, Kate and Andrea. In addition to her parents, Joan is predeceased by her nephew James Hill.
A viewing will be held on Friday, March 28, from 10:00 to 11:15 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington.
In memoriam, the family suggests donations be made to Friends of Bellevue, www.friendsofbellevuestatepark.org ,or the Brandywine Valley SPCA, https://bvspca.org/
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
