On Monday, August 28, 2023, Joan A. McHale, loving mother of four daughters, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Ocean View, DE at the age of 84.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Gertrude McMullan and her sister Mary Hamilton.  She is survived by her daughters Susan Requa, Sunday Williamson and her husband John, Sharon Barnes, Jennifer Whipkey and her husband Jeff; her brothers, Thomas McMullan and his wife Mary Ann and Kevin McMullan and his wife Donna; her grandchildren Bridgette Stewart, Brittany Bergendahl, Matthew Ambuhl, Noah Flinchum, Ryan and Jason Ogden, Brian and Nathan Dunn and Jeremy Cox; her great grandchildren Lucas, Brandon and Jacob Bergendahl and Damien Ogden; her forever friend Clarence as well as her beloved dog Pixie. Joan's family asks that she be remembered for the joy she brought to others in life not the sadness of her passing.

Joan was born in 1939 in Delaware County, PA.  She was raised in Newtown Square, PA with her older sister and two brothers.  She graduated from Marple Newtown High School.  In 1957, Joan married Robert Wilkinson, moved to Bowie, MD and raised their four daughters.  She was a devoted stay-at-home mom, sang in the St. Pius X Catholic Church choir, and took dance lessons at the Lorraine Small School of Dance where her daughters also took lessons.  Joan took a job as a cashier at a local grocery store and moved up to a florist position where her true talents blossomed.  She moved to VA and continued her career as a florist until she retired and moved to Ocean View, DE where she has lived for the past 20 years.  Subsequently, she worked as a sales person at Perfect Furnishing in Bethany Beach, DE where she honed her decorating abilities which led to the creation of the beautiful home she was known for.

Joan will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  She was known for her class, sense of humor and style, bright smile, independence, decorating skills, sweetness and fun-loving nature; and sometimes her stubbornness and hard-headedness.  She loved gardening, skiing, traveling, spending time with family and friends, hand dancing, clothes, shoes and jewelry, happy hours, Fisher's kettle popcorn, coffee and blueberry scones, holiday decorating, Halloween costumes, shopping even when she didn't need anything, and having her morning coffee while waiting for hummingbirds, deer, fox, rabbits, birds and butterflies to show up in her beautiful backyard gardens.  The hummingbirds didn't disappoint this year. Since 2010, she was a member of the Delmarva Hand Dance Club where she served two years as the secretary and formed many close friendships.  Her family shared many adventures and fun moments with her.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 11:00 am, followed by her Celebration of Life at 12:00 pm at Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Road, Ocean View, DE.  A private family gathering will be held afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to the Brandywine Valley SPCA in Georgetown, DE.