Joanna Elizabeth Esry (Joan Stella Bank), age 84, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2015 surrounded by family at her home in Elkton, MD. She was a devoted wife of 59 years to her husband George T. Esry, a homemaker, mother, and business owner. She enjoyed entertaining, hostessing, and gardening.

Mrs. Esry was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY, graduated from Niagara Falls High School, and attended San Francisco Junior College. Growing up she enjoyed ice skating in the Canadian Review, playing indoor badminton, and singing in the church choir as operatic soloist. She began her life’s journey as a counselor at the Zoar Valley Girl Scout Camp in Gowanda, NY where she initiated the Gypsy Covered Wagon and Campfire still practiced today. Following Junior College, she became a devoted wife and mother as the family moved to Waynesboro, VA, Camden, SC, and then Wilmington, DE. She served as a teacher for the CCD in each location and continued her education at SUNY Buffalo, East Tennessee State University, University of South Carolina, University of Delaware, and Cecil Community College majoring in art, history, copper enameling and pottery.

Joanna operated a kindergarten and preschool, taught art to children from preschool to senior high, designed sets for “The Deadly Game”, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and “Bye Bye Birdie” for a local theatre group, and served as director of a children’s summer theater. She hosted “The Green Thumb”, a weekly radio program on gardening, and “The Cat’s Meow”, a weekly jazz program with her husband. She started a garden club, became an accomplished potter, and began a long period of oil painting.

Joanna was an avid member and past president of many garden clubs at each location, most recently the Garden Gate Garden Club, Wilmington, DE, Green Fingers Garden Club, Earlesville, MD, and Garden Gate Garden Club of Cecil County. She was past president and Master Emeritus of the Delaware Rose Society, active in the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs, and chairperson for the Rockwood Museum Victorian Flower Arrangement. She was a nationally accredited Master Emeritus flower show judge, judged shows in numerous states, and won many creative floral design awards for her own entries. She held a Masters in Landscape Design and was a Master Gardener affiliated with the University of Maryland. She was Environmental Director of Flower Arrangements for Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Wilmington, DE, and provided interior design and restoration of a colonial herb garden for the Hollingsworth Mansion in Elkton, MD. Her own home and gardens were open to the public for Wilmington Garden Day for many years. Joanna was also a successful retail entrepreneur throughout her life and owned a bakery, dry cleaners, and a florist.

She was predeceased by her parents Stanley A. Bank and Madelyn (Chiodo) Bank and her sister Barbara Bank. She is survived by her beloved husband of 59 years George; her daughters Gail Alexandria Bensinger (Stu Krissinger) of Bear, DE, Lisa Claire Emory (William) of New Castle, DE, and Dianne Elizabeth Esry of Wilmington, DE; her grandsons John T. Emory of Philadelphia, PA, Joseph T. Emory of Newark, DE, and Michael C. Bensinger of Elkton, MD; two great-grandchildren; her brother Richard L. Bank and nephews Mark and Brian Bank, of Los Angeles, CA; and life-long friend Sophia Tarapcynski Kolarz.

Relatives and friends are invited to a family visitation on Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10:00AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 455 Bow Street, Elkton, MD followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Immaculate Conception Church Outreach and mailed to R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 259 East Main St., Elkton, MD 21921. The family wishes to thank Seasons Hospice, Griswold Homecare, and caregivers Becky and Amy for their tireless devotion and support.