Joanna R. Varley

Joanna R. Varley, 99, of Honey Brook, passed away the afternoon of Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Hickory House Nursing Home. She was the daughter of the late Alfred and Bessie Anderson (nee Androvette) and the wife of Arthur P. Varley with whom she shared 52 years of marriage until Arthur’s passing in 1996.
Joanna was always helping others. As a registered nurse, she worked at various hospitals from Texas, New York and New Jersey to Maryland.

She was the Head Nurse at the Cardiac Care Unit of Union Hospital in Elkton, Maryland, until the first of her several retirements, in 1985. She also taught nursing at Delaware Technical & Community College for several years. After moving to Heatherwood Retirement Community in 2007, Joanna remained active as a member of various bowling leagues, the Heatherwood Writing Group, the Heatherwood Garden Club, Red Hats Society and the Heathertones, which is the Chorus at Heatherwood.
During her 12 years at Heatherwood, she would frequently call bingo and was always getting others’ walkers, even after she began to need one herself. Joanna also loved to fish or sit down with a crossword puzzle or mystery novel. Most importantly, she loved being with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Joanna is survived and remembered by her sons; Thomas A. Varley (Kate) and Floyd D. Varley; as well as her grandchildren; Jennifer T. Rhys, Dr. K-T Varley, Maureen Varley, and John T. Varley, great grandchildren Griffin and Seraphina Rhys.

In addition to her parents and husband, Arthur, Joanna was preceded in death by her daughter; Maureen Craven; as well as grandson James T. Craven Jr.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 11:00 AM at the James J. Terry Funeral Home DOWNINGTOWN 736 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown PA 19335.

A visitation will be held Monday, August 19, 2019 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM and Tuesday, August 20, 2019, 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged in Joanna’s honor to the American Heart Association https://heart.org/ or The Daisy Foundation which honors outstanding nurses https://www.daisyfoudation.org/

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