August 25, 2011 - Joanne Waters, a long-time member of the Wilmington Montessori School community, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer last night.

Joanne served in many roles during the nearly three decades she spent working at WMS, most recently as our Family Relations Officer.

Our community mourns her loss, not only as a talented and creative colleague, but also as a dear friend.

Yet, WMS will always be richer for what she has left us; from the current organization of our co-op system to the artwork throughout the school to the spirit of love and friendship that lives on in our community, Joanne remains a huge part of who we are and how we live our mission every day at WMS.

Please feel welcome to share your thoughts below.

Total Comments (11)

1) Joanne

Joanne used to joke that she had held just about every job that got created at one time or another. Each role become unique to Joanne as she brought her creavitity and personal care for others to her work. She was the first person that many people met at WMS. Indeed, as we look around the school building, we are surrounded by the memories of Joanne and her personal creative touches from the pig outside of Carolyn’s office to the lost and found at the entrance way which Joanne created with one of the co-op parents. Joanne loved WMS and I know that you all appreciate that the future of WMS is built off of the foundation of people like Joanne. She will be missed. Linda Zankowsky   8/26/2011 3:49 PM

2) Joanne and Chester Bacon, the pig

One of my favorite memories of Joanne is the winter she decided to take Chester Bacon, our school's new pot-bellied pig, home for the winter. (WMS always had a menagerie of farm animals visiting in the early 90's.) Chester was still relatively small and could reside in a crate in Joanne's kitchen when it was not appropriate for him to roam free. Joanne was a good cook and thus Chester grew quite substantially during those winter months. He even learned to open her refrigerator door and help himself to leftovers. On occasion, Chester would escape out the door of the house, down the streets of the neighborhood. Joanne discovered that Chester loved peanut butter. To coax him back to the house, Joanne would take a large jar of peanut butter and a wooden spoon, feeding him heaping spoonfuls of peanut butter all the way back to the kitchen. A trick Joanne passed on to Cathy Weaver and George Maris when Chester made a few "great escapes" from his pen at WMS once spring arrived and he returned from his spa retreat at the Water's household. Who else but Joanne would lovingly share her kitchen with a little pig that always had a special place in her heart. Arlene Wason   8/27/2011 11:42 AM

3) Patrick Swayze

I am so, very sorry to read of Joanne's passing. I was fortunate to meet and work with Joanne as the co-op coordinator during my son's first year of school. As a new WMS parent, there was much to learn about school policies and procedures, and I could not have asked for a more patient and friendly coach! At the end of that school year, I learned of Joanne's diagnosis and visited her blog for details. There I learned of Joanne's sad news, her incredible positivity, and that we both share a love for Patrick Swayze. To this day, I have always though of her when I see his movies, and I am sure I always will. Carmel Anerino   8/31/2011 11:20 AM

4) Thoughts
Joanne was often the first and last friendly face a family would see at WMS. Always a tremendous supporter of the staff, the students and the mission...she will be truly missed. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family from The Quinn Family (Mark, Sheryce, Savannah and Lillian) Sheryce Quinn   9/1/2011 12:56 PM

5) Thank you all

It is nice to see acknowledgement of Joanne's contributions to WMS and her being considered special for so many years to the WMS community. Joanne often referred to the "WMS family" and I could not agree more. The turnout on Wednesday was a vivid reminder of how much her family swelled over the years and how mutually was the love and acceptance felt. I will always remember fondly our first involvement with the school in 1979, in the Little Red Schoolhouse at the Buzz Ware Community Center. Both its and our growth were paralleled in the new school and finally, the addition to the school. Just as there are so many examples of Joanne's imprint on the school, the current campus will be a constant reminder to me of many years of wonderful memories and all of the great friends we met along the way. Dane Waters   9/2/2011 9:56 AM

6) Always positive

I met Joanne in 2002 when she gave me a tour of WMS. She truly loved the WMS community and she was the perfect "first contact". When I first learned she was ill I was shocked..Joanne NEVER complained. I'd ask, "How are you, Joanne?" and she always replied with, "I'm doing well". I'll always remember her sitting in the back of the gym with her lamb hand puppet on her lap for all school concerts. She was also a really good listener with very comfortable, absorbent shoulders. I offer her family my most heartfelt sympathies for their loss. Donna Irby   9/8/2011 4:26 PM

7) Patient and Caring

I've just learned about Joanne's passing and I can't help but feel a tremendous loss. I remember working with Joanne on the yearbook and the both of us having no idea how to start or what to do. Joanne invited me into her home on one of our days off so we could vigilantly work on it. Between her patience and my technology experience we figured it out and finished what we set out to do. It was such a great day working, laughing, joking. She will be missed. Julie Andrew-Lamon   9/14/2011 9:38 AM

8) thoughts
Joanne had a kind and crazy spirit,the angels will love her. She was my scrapbooking friend and she will always be one of my favorite "Creative Memories" Peace to all Sharon Entzminger Sharon Entzminger   9/19/2011 6:18 PM

9) the bridal and baby showers

Joanne possessed a perfect combination of elegance, thoughtfulness and sense of humor. She used to plan bridal and baby showers for staff members. She could decorate any space in the most lovingly and lovely way. Then she would quietly sit back and record everyone's comments. After the gifts were open, she would have everyone laughing to tears as she read back the chatter. She was the kindness person I have ever known. We miss her in so many ways. Joyce Hutchison   9/26/2011 9:49 AM

10) Co-op for Joanne

When I first met Joanne, she was so encouraging and friendly. Joanne got to know Christopher in his first year at WMS over 9 years ago and encouraged me to get involved with WMS. I put so many Co-op hours into WMS, because Joanne encouraged me to give back to the community. From Queen of Hearts to Clifford to assist anyone who needed help, Joanne cheered me on to help the WMS community. Joanne had a gift to make a person feel special and needed. When Joanne became ill, I still felt her encouragement to help in any way possible. I will miss my always caring and loving friend. I use the cane she gave me every day as a constant reminder of her love and generosity of spirit for both Christopher and me. God Bless her. I can see her smile and hear her joyful laugh in my heart always. Julie Cooke (Christopher Cooke's Mom-graduating Class of 2011)   10/3/2011 9:49 PM

11) Just Fun!!!!!!!!!!

So many good memories of Joanne.....The Fall Festivals she organized......the finger puppets she made.......the magical wands (the heart- shaped wand still used in my classroom on a daily basis).....treats in the teachers' mailboxes on holidays......her wonderful dress- up outfits and chicken she carried around at the fairs.....her wonderful creativity.....her gentle mannerisms and funny tales of Chester Bacon, and of course her love of her boys and Dane. I felt like I was holding a piece of Joanne in my hands when looking at her scrapbooks at her memorial service. What a wonderful gift to pass on to her family. Dane, I'll never look at an ice cream scoop again without thinking of her!! thelma dooley   10/8/2011 9:54 AM

Add your comment:

Full Name:
E-mail:
Subject:
Comment: