Remembering Joanne Opalenick
Former Lower School Music Teacher Joanne Opalenick passed away on April 30, 2021. She is the mother of Karen Opalenick Dean ’81 and Diane Opalenick ’87. The following obituary is listed on the website of the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals:
“Joanne Young Opalenick, wife of the late Nicholas G. Opalenick, mother of two daughters, and Nana to three grandchildren and two beloved granddogs, died on April 30th in Voorhees, NJ at the age of 85.
“Joanne was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late Thomas H. and Margaret B. Young. She grew up in Havertown, PA where she developed her life-long love for music. After graduating from Lebanon Valley College in 1957 Joanne started her teaching career in Lancaster, PA where she met Nick. At the time of his passing in 2016, Jo and Nick had been married for 55 years.
“Joanne’s passion for making and teaching music was ever-present. Anyone who knew her can easily picture Mrs. O strumming a guitar with a smile on her face as she invited you to sing along to one the many tunes in her repertoire, especially “Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder” sung at most family gatherings. Over the course of her professional career, she played the violin in various local orchestras, directed the summer children’s program at the LBI Foundation of Arts & Sciences, and taught music to lower school children at Moorestown Friends School for 25 years.
“A committed lifelong learner, Joanne earned a Master of Education degree from Temple University and later spent many years exploring the healing properties of music and sound. Joanne’s deep belief in the power of music remained evident during her first years at the Fountains, in Atco, NJ, where she regularly played for and organized sing-alongs with fellow residents to ensure that the joy of music reached every corner of the facility. Joanne touched the lives of many and the notes she played throughout her life, continue to resound in the souls of all who knew her.
“Joanne is predeceased by her husband Nicholas G. Opalenick; brother Thomas H. Young; sister-in-law Patricia Young; and grand-dog Bailey. She is survived by daughters Karen Opalenick Dean and Diane Opalenick; son-in-law Stephen O. Dean; brother Richard B. Young; sister-in-law Deborah Young; brother-in-law Joseph Opalenick and his wife Judy Opalenick, eight nieces, one nephew; three grandchildren, Graham N. Dean, Spencer R. Dean, and Claire A. Dean; and grand-dog Cooper.
“Family and friends are invited to join us to celebrate Joanne’s life on Saturday, May 22nd 11am-2pm at Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Rd, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joanne’s memory can be made to The Samaritan Center, Vorhees at: https://samaritannj.org/
As we remember Joanne Opalenick and the 25 years she dedicated to Moorestown Friends as Lower School Music Teacher, we look back at her time through photographs. From left: In the Lower School Music Room (1987), Leading a Sing-Along (1981), At a Grandparents Day (1988), Peeling Corn for a Lobster Bake, Joanne at a keyboard (2000), Honored at the Dinner Among Friends (2000), and Retirement Celebration with Faculty and Staff (2000).
Please join us in holding Joanne and her family in the Light.
