Joan Barbara (Connell) Szostkowski
Joan Barbara (Connell) Szostkowski, age 85, of Wilmington, Delaware, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Joan graduated from William Penn High School in 1958. She retired from Diamond State Telephone Company (Verizon) in 1995 after 30 years of service. In 1998, she went to work for New Castle County as a custodian, the last 3 years of that employment working part-time at the New Castle County Police Station in Middletown, Delaware. She loved working there and had great affection and respect for all the officers.
She was a Telephone Pioneer and was active in volunteering as a community and co-chairperson from 1995 to 2005. She loved to crochet and made many things for family and friends. She especially loved crocheting baby clothes. She loved getting together with her dear old telephone friends. She also loved to play bingo and cards. She belonged to the Foxy Shore Red Hatters which she enjoyed immensely. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Joan is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, John; daughters, Susan Peart, Kathleen Abbott and Karen Neubauer (James); brother, Thomas Connell (Chris); sisters-in-law, Dorothy Piekarski, Barbara Morris (Ronald) and Joanne Szostkowski; grandchildren, Kristin McCullin, David L. Hall, Jr., Danielle M. Smith (Alexander), Ashley Peart, Ryan Lindgren (Sandra), Lauren S. Abbott (Justin), Brian D. Abbott (Mariah), and Regan Szostkowski; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Joan was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy Nixon; father, Thomas Connell; brother, Robert Connell; beloved Aunt, Cecilia McKenzie; mother and father-in-law, Agatha and John Szostkowski, Sr.; sister-in-law, Joan Hogate; nephew, David Morris; and great-nephew, Bryan Kosc.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be held privately in Gracelawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Joan Szostkowski to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking here.
Regan
Joan was the best mommom to all of her grand children and great grand children.❤️
Rose O'Neill
Dear John, Sue, Kathy, Karen and family, Sending deepest condolences for your loss. Growing up I remember your Mom making Easter dresses for us all one year and decorating the most beautiful cakes. In the last several years we reconnected and it was a joy to visit and talk on the phone. I hope she knows how special she was to those who knew her. I am sorry I wasn’t able to visit her before she passed. I think of her every Christmas, when I hang her hand-made Christmas ornaments on my tree. She will be sorely missed. Take comfort in the happy memories that will live on forever. God Bless you Joan. Rest in Heavenly Peace 🙏💔🙏
Ann Bowman
My condolences and prayers to the family of a well loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.I pray that God will bring peace and comfort to you all during this difficult time. We all know that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Joanie was a wonderful lady and a friend to me. She will be missed but, not lost. She’s home in peace with God. May God continue to bless and comfort you all with his precious peace. Blessings 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏