Joan Schafer Speakman, 92, was called Home to God and to her late husband, Sam on March 2, 2017 following a short illness.

Joan was born in Wilmington, Delaware on September 29, 1924 where she was raised on Franklin Street and spent her summers in Rehoboth Beach. She remained in Delaware most of her life until retirement in Florida and Maryland. She graduated from P.S. DuPont High School in 1942 and attended the University of Delaware, before she went to work for DuPont in Wilmington.

In the summer of 1946 she met a man in Rehoboth Beach that she would spend the next 57 years with. She married Samuel Speakman of Claymont, Delaware where she immediately started their family. Sam Jr., Richard and Barbara were born on the farm on Harvey Road in Claymont where they were raised until they moved to a Wilmington suburb development of Fairfax. There David, Rosalie and Ann were born. Joan, being a city girl, was much more comfortable managing the family with neighbors, schools and friends nearby. Joan spent her life devoted to her husband and children.

In addition to vacationing annually in Rehoboth Beach, the family spent most of their summer weekends at their cottage in Charlestown, on the Northeast River. Mother preferred Rehoboth Beach over the Northeast River, but over time the river cottage held a special place in her heart, where she spent all of her summers right up to her passing.

Sam and Joan were members of the DuPont Country Club where they enjoyed golf and many social events. Joan was a woman of strong faith, attending St. Mary Magdalen Church and Immaculate Conception – St. Jude’s in Northeast, Maryland. They loved their fall football and socializing at tailgate parties with family and friends, cheering on the University of Delaware Blue Hens for many years. They traveled together to Europe, Hawaii, and extensively in the west before they retired to Florida in the seventies.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Joan Daniel Schafer and Rosalie Farrell Schafer, stepmother, Laura Schafer Mitchell, husband, Samuel Speakman, brother, John D. Shafer, and sister, Louzetta Shafer Lower Morris.

Survivors include sister, Rosalie Shafer Bradley of Libertyville, IL; stepbrother, Robert X. Miller of Kennett Square, PA; son, Samuel (Joyce) Speakman Jr. of Elkton, MD; son, Richard John (Debbie) Speakman of Lakeland, FL; daughter, Barbara Juliette Speakman (Rick Jerrils) Sheedy of Marathon, FL; son, David Frank (Joyce) Speakman of Bonita Springs, FL; daughter, Rosalie Schafer Speakman of Bonita Springs, FL and daughter, Ann Abbott Speakman (Paul) Mocko of Charlestown, MD; grandchildren: Daniel Seth (Jenny) Speakman of Elkton, MD; Gregory Taylor Speakman of Northeast, MD; Adam David (Lauren) Speakman of Downington, PA; Sean Lowell (Amanda) Speakman of Lakeland, FL; Heather Lynn (Shannon) Rimes of Lakeland, FL; Michael Joseph (Petal) Noyes of West Palm Beach, FL; Benjamin Everett (Margo) Noyes of USAF-Hoensbroek, Netherlands; Melissa Rose Speakman of Myrtle Beach, SC; and Paul Eric Mocko II of Charlestown, MD; and great-grandchildren: Grace M. Speakman and Samuel L. Speakman of Elkton, MD; Michael A. Speakman, Jacob T. Speakman, Paxton D. Speakman and Matthew R. Speakman of Northeast, MD; Luke R. Speakman and Cameron M. Speakman of Downingtown, PA; Jasmine D. Speakman of Lakeland, FL; Kadence W. Rimes and Chandler J. Rimes of Lakeland, FL; Triston O. Noyes of West Palm Beach, FL; Julianna H. Noyes of Hoensbroek, Netherlands; and step-grandchildren: Haunni Campanon and Gian Companon of Boca Raton, FL.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Joanne House Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs for the excellent care and compassion given to Joan.

Friends may call on Thursday, March 9 from 5 PM to 7 PM at the R.T. Foard Funeral Home, 259 E. Main St., Elkton, MD 21921. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 10 at 10AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 455 Bow St., Elkton, MD 21921. Interment will follow immediately at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Route 213 N. past Childs Rd. in the Cherry Hill area.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the “Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Food Pantry Outreach” where both Joan and Sam volunteered their time, sent in care of the funeral home.