Joan M. Coley

                                                HOMECOMING CELEBRATION FOR JOAN MABEL COLEY

Joan Mabel Coley was born into time on Feb 16, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Affectionately known as “Jean” by her family, she was the eldest daughter of the Late Ralph and Mabel Allen.  

Joan was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System. She graduated from the David Keyser and Joseph E. Hill Elementary Schools; Roosevelt Jr High and graduated from Germantown High in 1949. In later years, she attended night school at LaSalle University where she studied insurance to further her insurance career.

Born and raised in East Germantown, she would later meet and marry her future husband, the Late Arnold George Coley Sr in July 1949. He came to Philadelphia fresh out of the Army to attend tailoring school. Ironically, the Skidmore Tailoring School was located in her former elementary school, David Keyser. 

They dated and soon married on May 6, 1950. From that 66-year union, two children were born; Arnold Jr and Joanne. Affectionately called “George”, he went on to be with the Lord in July 2016. 

Her professional career was multifaceted. Joan was employed by CA Rowell Department Store as a Stock Clerk.  She was also an Order Picker in the mail-order plant at Sears Roebuck for over 2 1/2 years. Ironically, her Late husband Arnold worked in the mail order plant for over 38 years. Her studies at La Salle would aid in her career advancement at Commercial Union Auto Insurance for a number of years. Joan’s public service with the United States Federal Government began at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. She also worked for the Army Ordinance and retired from NAVILCO under the Dept of Navy with 22 years of service as an Accounting Technician for foreign military sales to US foreign allies by the US government. Throughout her career, Joan would receive numerous awards until her retirement in 1991.

Joan accepted Christ at an early age which visiting her grandmother and was baptized at the Garden of Prayer Church in Philadelphia. Upon returning home, she attended Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. In 1965, Joan was baptized again along with her husband and son while accepting Christ and joining Corinthian Baptist Church in 1965.  At Corinthian, she was a member of the Skipwith Choir for several years; helped in the nursery and was also a deaconess and was secretary of the deaconess board for 10 years. She also served on the Deaconess Board of Agape Christian Chapel for 2 years. Joan was an active member of Canaan Baptist Church, Sunday school and an active participant in the Angel Tree Program. It was at Canaan that she took some computer classes and become a “techie.”  Joan also served on the Missionary Board at the Christ Baptist Church. After caring for her ailing husband and his passing, God would have her come full circle again back to Enon Baptist Church. 

Joan enjoyed the computer and became quite the “techie.” She was also an avid seamstress, loved doing crossword puzzles and cryptograms, baking and had a flair for design. You could always find her making homemade cakes and pies on Sundays. Saturdays she was known to make homemade ice cream with delicious flavors such as chocolate, peach and coffee. She and George loved gardening. They also grew different vegetables but the huge Beefsteak tomatoes were a constant.

She was a devoted wife, mother and dedicated daughter to her aging parents and husband. Joan was always a passionate and committed person in all of her endeavors.

During the early morning of March 30, 2021, it became time for Joan to rest with the Lord and her beloved late husband George. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memories: her two children, Arnold Jr and Joanne; one daughter in law, Sheila; two grandchildren, Dara and Sharon; eight great grandchildren;  one great great-granddaughter; one great-great grandson; one brother-in-law, Richard Coley ( Barbara); one niece, three nephews plus a host of friends.

Submitted With Love,

The Family

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