WILMINGTON – Joziena [Joan] M. Ballintyn, 101, died May 11, 2021 at home surrounded by those she loved. She was born March 22, 1920 in Koedoes, Java Indonesia, the oldest daughter of Johan and Catharina deRuijter.
Joan earned her teaching degree in Indonesia. She and her future husband, Nicolaas, returned to The Netherlands after they were each released from Japanese POW camps post WWII. She and Nic were married in Haarlem, The Netherlands in 1952 and enjoyed a very full life together for 46 years, including immigrating to the United States in 1957. They had four sons, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Joan loved animals and flowers and always surrounded herself with color, including many beautiful hand-crafted counted cross-stitched works of art and hundreds of complicated jigsaw puzzles. She was passionate about her faith and volunteered from 1965 through 2020 at St. Matthew and St. John The Beloved Catholic School Libraries where she was adored by her co-workers.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Nicolaas, and her sister Lily [deRuijter] Go. She is survived by her four sons, Nicolaas [Rhonda], Frank [Gay Ann], Andy [Patty] and Matthew [Dolores], eight grandchildren, David [Kristen], Mark [Jenn], Michael [Tamara], Brian [Gina], Christopher [Shannon], Lara, Benjamin and Nathan. She also had eight great-grandchildren, Caleb, Noah, Emily, Julie, Lilian, Damien, Timothy and Liam as well as her niece, Frances and nephew, Peter.
Visitation will be at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home Sunday, May 16th from 6-8 pm. A Catholic Mass will be held Monday, May 17th at 10am at St. John The Beloved Catholic Church, 907 Milltown Rd, Wilmington, DE. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Wilmington. The viewing and services will be held in accordance with the current health directives, wearing masks, social distancing and capacity requirements.
Those who wish to celebrate Joan may send colorful flowers to McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3710 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Delaware 19808.
The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the care mom received from the folks at Delaware Hospice, Fr. Joe Piekarski at St John’s and her daily caregivers Felicia Gonzalez-Benson and Noddine Downs from Griswold Home Care who all cared for mom with love and respect.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
