Obituary of Joan Strachota

Joan Strachota, 71, of White Horse Village, Newtown Square, PA, died Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at White Horse Village. Joan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had been a resident of Wallingford, PA, before moving to White Horse Village. She was a graduate of Marquette University with a BS Degree in Speech Therapy and a graduate of Northwestern University was a Master's Degree in Deaf Education. Joan worked for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit as a Teacher for the Hearing Impaired for 36 years until her retirement in June 1999. Joan was a worldwide traveler; one of Joan's goals was to set foot on all seven continents, which she completed several years ago on a trip to Antarctica. But her main interest in travel was to learn the local culture of countries visited. A woman of many sports, in 2000 she was one of more than 200 participants in a year-long bicycling trip that traveled to some 45 countries. She also led week-long bicycle trips in Pennsylvania for Bicycle Adventure Club as well as local rides for her cycling friends. Joan's volunteer activities were just as extensive as her other interests: a docent of children's programs at Tyler Arboretum, where she also took the annual bluebird count; a reservationist at a lodge owned by Buck Ridge Ski Club, of which she was a long-time member; a reader to hearing-impaired school children in the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Hearing Program; an individual reading tutor; and, even in illness, a deliverer of Meals on Wheels and lunch provider for an ill friend. Joan was also a member of A G Bell Association for the deaf, an avid movie-goer and she enjoyed dance performance. Joan was the daughter of the late Lester and Rita Heiman Strachota. SURVIVORS: Brothers: Bob Strachota of Massachusetts and Jerry Strachota of Wisconsin Sisters: Kathryn Strachota of California and Marilyn McWilliams of Colorado. Also survived by a several nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Interment Private Contributions in memory of Joan Strachota may be presented to Tyler Arboretum, 515 Painter Road, Media, PA 19063 and/or; Delaware County Intermediate Unit Hearing Program, Attention Irene Meranda, 200 Yale Avenue, Morton, PA 19070.