Joan T. Fitzpatrick, 74, longtime medical tech at Delco hospital

Joan Teresa Fitzpatrick, 74, of Burlington and later Newtown Square, a former medical technologist and laboratory supervisor at Delaware County Memorial Hospital, died Wednesday, Oct. 18, of a stroke at Little Flower Manor in Darby Borough.

Miss Fitzpatrick studied at the Franklin School of Science and Arts in Philadelphia from 1961 to 1964 and graduated as a certified medical technologist.

She worked at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy until October 1966, when she was hired by Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Lansdowne. Over the next 49 years, she worked in the medical center's laboratories, running tests and bearing witness to many changes and advances in the medical field, she told her family.

She rose to supervisor of the hospital's chemistry laboratory before retiring in September 2015.

"She really liked the work," said her sister, Sharon.

At various times, Miss Fitzpatrick's life spanned both sides of the Delaware River. She lived in Burlington, Philadelphia, Upper Darby, West Chester, Broomall, and Newtown Square.

Born to Matilda C. Buckno and Joseph H. Hercker in Mount Holly, she grew up in Burlington.

On April 3, 1945, when Miss Fitzpatrick was 2, her father, an Army Air Corps gunner in World War II, died when his plane, a member of the Crusader Group, became lost in thick clouds during an Allied bombing raid on factories near Ittenbach, Germany.

According to his military record, "it is not clear what happened, but when the formation broke cover, there was no sign of his aircraft, and it never made it back to base." His remains were recovered and are buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten.

To read about Staff Sgt. Hercker and view photos of him and his daughter: https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-h/51128-hercker-joseph-h

In 1953, when Miss Fitzpatrick was 10, her mother married Francis E. Fitzpatrick of Burlington. He adopted the young girl and treated her as his own.

Miss Fitzpatrick was a devout Catholic. She graduated in 1961 from Holy Cross High School in Delran. While growing up, she was active in the Girl Scouts, and was a camp counselor at Camp Kettle Run in the Pinelands for several summers.

In 1999, Miss Fitzpatrick earned an associate's degree from what is now Neumann University in Aston, and followed up with a bachelor of science degree from Neumann in 2002.

An extended road trip to Colorado as a child whetted her appetite for travel. Later, she enjoyed touring Hawaii, Bermuda, Ireland, and Italy. Her wide array of hobbies included beekeeping, candle making, cooking with honey, keeping cats as pets, dancing, and gardening.

"Her housekeeping was meticulous," her sister said. In later years, Miss Fitzpatrick cared for her ailing parents. "She was very dependable and compassionate," her sister said.

She enjoyed being "the Best Aunt in the World" to her four nephews, her sister said.

"She would rent a Shore house in the summer, sometimes in Ocean City and sometimes in Sea Isle City, and graciously allow her sister, brother-in-law, and nephews to share it with her. They have many fond memories of boogie boarding and buying prank toys at Hoy's 5- & 10-cent store," her sister said.

In 2010 and 2015, Miss Fitzpatrick went to the Netherlands in search of her father's grave. With the help of the American War Orphan Network, not only did she find the grave, but also a Dutch family named Haagan whose self-appointed task had been to tend the grave and honor the memory of her father.

"Every grave in the cemetery is adopted by local Dutch people, who to this day visit, bring flowers, and honor those who fought for and liberated their country," her sister said.

Wen and Renate Haagan, and son Jelle and daughter Floor, visited Ms. Fitzpatrick this April, even though her health was failing. "She enjoyed their company on that special spring afternoon and was so thankful for their being her adopted family," her sister said.

Besides her sister, Miss Fitzpatrick is survived another sister, Elaine; nephews Mike, Kevin, Eamonn, and Sean Fitzpatrick-Ruth;  and her special friend, Robert Leardi.

A viewing starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, will be followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass in the Chapel of Little Flower Manor, 1201 Springfield Rd., Darby, Pa. 19023. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.

Memorial donations may be made to Little Flower Manor at the address above.