Joan Carey, retired court clerk

Joan Carey passed away Monday Sept. 22, 2025, at Delaware Bay Healthcare Center.

She was born Oct. 12, 1940, in Manitowoc Wis., daughter of the late Claude J. Sielski and Leila T. (Dziengelewski) Sielski.

She grew up in Manitowoc, where she met her husband, Bob, while he was stationed there in the U.S. Coast Guard. They moved to his home in Delaware when he completed his service.

For many years, she had worked at Atlantis Plastics and then Atlantis Industries. She also held jobs at Carlton's in Rehoboth and Thomas Best and Sons grocery store before she became a clerk for JP Court 2 in Lewes, where she had worked for more than 20 years before retiring in her 70s.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her spouse of more than 40 years, Robert “Bob” P. Carey; her son, Robert P. Carey Jr.; siblings, Judith Neuser and Dennis Sielski; and a brother-in-law, Randy Cherney.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Therese (Terri) Millman; and son-in-law, Jeff Millman, both of Lewes; and daughter-in-law, Lori Carey of Pittsburgh, Pa. She is also survived by grandchildren, Zachary P. Millman (Desi) and Nicole C. Drechsler (Mike); adopted grandson, Ryan A. Toohey; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Raelynn Drechsler, and Mia and Ava Millman, all of Lewes; a sister, Catherine Cherney, brother, Ronald Sielski (Mary); brother-in-law, James Neuser; and many special nieces and nephews in Wisconsin.

Services will be private. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Delaware Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Delaware Hospice, Attn: Southern Division, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810.

Visit Joan’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.