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Joan Marie Lomas, family matriarch

February 20, 2013

Joan Marie Lomas, 84, of Milton, passed away at her residence Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, with her loving family by her side, after a courageous battle with bladder cancer.  She was born in Lenni, Pa., Monday, June 4, 1928, daughter of the late John J. and Alice (Lees) Minker.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, John J. Minker Jr.

Mrs. Lomas was raised in Lenni.  After marrying, she and her husband moved to Claymont in 1956 and to Milton in 1992; they spent their summers from 1963 to 1990 at White House Beach in Long Neck.

Mrs. Lomas loved life and shared her many joys and blessings: she was a teacher's aide for the Brandywine School District; together with her brother she owned and operated a ceramic business in Lenni; she was a member of the Eastern Star; a former board member of the Lewes Senior Center and ceramic instructor; former secretary of the Brandywine Republican Committee; and past member of the Claymont Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary.

When Mrs. Lomas was not taking care of others, she thoroughly enjoyed world travel which helped to quench her thirst for, and love of, history.  She was particularly fond of traveling throughout France and to Civil War battlegrounds. Her father passed along to her his yearning for travel and she in turn passed it to her children.

Everyone knew that Mrs. Lomas was the family matriarch and to the very end she was saying "That's all there is to it!"  Mrs. Lomas had a huge heart and was a very loving and proud wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Her husband of 63 years, Orville, sends her on her way with one final thought, "I will love you always!"

The family extends a debt of gratitude to the very caring staff at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and at Tunnell Cancer Center in Lewes for their extraordinary care and compassion of Mrs. Lomas.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Lomas is survived by two sons: David O. Lomas and wife Debra Doucette of Milton, and Dale J. Lomas and wife Sue of Lewes; grandchildren: Gina Burrows and husband Jamie, Lise Delplanque, and Michael J. Doucette and wife Karen; great-grandchildren: Annabelle Burrows, Alex Burrows, Olivia Burrows, James R. Doucette and Julia M. Doucette; and her brother and sister-in-law, Wilmer and Shirley Lomas of Lutherville, Md.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24, at Calvary Cemetery, 677 Mount Road, Aston, Pa.  Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Dept. of Urology, c/o Jefferson Foundation, 925 Chestnut St., Ste. 110, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

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