Joan Beaver

Joan Schick Beaver of the Borough of Richland, Lebanon County, died at home on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 surrounded by her loving family. Joan is survived by her husband of 53 years R. Hart Beaver, Esq., one child, a daughter, Britt Beaver Saitta, wife of John A. Saitta of Huntingdon Valley, PA, one brother, Earl W. Schick and his wife Georgia B. Schick of Pittsburgh, PA; and two grandchildren, Bradley Hart Saitta and John Tyler Saitta. Her father, Earl F. Schick and mother, Wilhelmina Haman "Honey" Schick preceded her in death. Joan was a graduate of the January class of Frankford High School in Philadelphia, PA in 1954, and of Gettysburg College in 1957 where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Scholastic Fraternity and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was a member of the Delta Gamma social sorority. In the early years of her marriage Joan dedicated her life to rearing her daughter, Britt, and to preserving her farm home in Richland. As recreational time became more available to Joan and her husband, she shared her husband''s dreams of an active life; whether it was skiing at their home in Aspen, rebuilding a classic open cockpit bi-plane and flying it to the air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, following roads and railroad tracks; serving as cook and crew on the family''s A Class sailboat while racing on the Chesapeake Bay or competing in 8 major Ocean Races from Annapolis to Newport or Newport to Bermuda; and fox hunting in Chester County, PA as a member of the Cochran Hunt. Joan lived a purpose filled life quietly without ostentation, in Richland, where she was an active member of Millcreek Lutheran Church in which she served on the Church Council and as a Sunday school teacher. In addition she was an avid supporter of the Richland Community Library where she served as Secretary for many years. Services of Christian Burial will take place at the Millcreek Lutheran Church in Newmanstown, Lebanon County, PA on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 11:00AM. Friends may visit prior to the service starting at 9:30AM. Contributions instead of flowers may be made in Joan''s memory to Millcreek Lutheran Church Box 399, Newmanstown, PA 17073. www.christmansfuneralhome.com