Joan H. Weckesser, age 91, formerly a resident of Ocean City, NJ from 1982 until 2017, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 8, 2021 in Exton, PA. Born in Philadelphia, Joan was the daughter of the late Edward and the late Catharine (nee Myers) Hoffman, the devoted wife of the late James G. Weckesser for 60 years, and the loving mother of the late James J. Weckesser, Karen (Michael) Murdock of Raleigh, NC, Stephen W. Weckesser of The Villages, FL, Joan-Marie Waits of Danville, PA and Barbara (George) Protenic of West Chester, PA. In addition, Mrs. Weckesser is survived by seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren with whom she had a special way of making each one feel as if they were her favorite.
Joan was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Philadelphia, PA, Class of 1948, and continued her education at Penn State. She advanced to become a writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Suburban and Wayne Times and Today’s Post from the 1960’s through the 1970’s. In the late 1970’s, Joan transitioned her career to Public Relations for the late Pennsylvania State Senator Richard Tilghman for 20 plus years. Joan loved being at the shore, strolling the boardwalk, and hosting porch parties at her home in Ocean City where she attended St. Damien Parish. Joan enjoyed relaxing with her dogs and reading British murder mystery novels or a well-composed political thriller.
Relatives and Friends are invited to The Bernard S. Gutkowski Funeral Home, 305 Jefferson Street, Swedesburg, Upper Merion Twp., PA 19405, 610-275-6385, Keith J. Murphy, F.D., www.gutkowskifuneralhome.com, on Saturday, October 30, 2021, where her family will greet guests from 9 a.m. until her Memorial Service begins at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, her family would appreciate memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Philabundance, 3616 South Galloway Street, Phila., PA 19148.
