Joan Strauff Howe

Joan Strauff Howe of Annapolis, Maryland, was a force. If you knew her, you knew.

Whether she was on the ski slopes, a sailboat, traveling the world, the tennis court, the golf course or in front of an easel, she pushed herself to be the very best.

Her journey started July 27, 1928 in the beautiful area of Homeland in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the youngest of four stunning sisters, which explains her tenacity. She was the daughter of Edward August Strauff and Loretta Philbin and sister to Mary Lina Kosicki, Anne Joslin and Loretta Eaton. Joan was the very last of her family to leave this earth. Surrounded by her loving family, she peacefully passed on Mother's Day, May 12, 2024 at 95 years old, making sure no one would forget her by claiming Mother's Day as hers. It always was.

Determined to be the only sister to make it to 100, her feisty life was cut short of her expectations by a stroke that robbed us of her light.

She graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School, playing every sport they offered. Continuing to dominate on the hockey field, she received her Bachelor's Degree in English from Randolph Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Virginia.

She was swept off her feet by the dashing Edwin S. Howe, Jr. and the two married in 1951. Joan was a pre-school and kindergarten teacher before she began a family of her own. She brought into this world three sons and a daughter who have all created a beautiful family tree full of life, love and laughter.

Joan wore many diverse hats after resuming her professional career all while creating art in oils and pastels. She took classes at the Maryland Institute of Art and the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore. She attempted her hand at kitchen design but moved on to a career in human services for the National Commission for the Aging. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia and after three years ventured on to purchase and run the Historic Hollymead Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia with her son Scott where she would hang her underwear on the shower curtain rod and hope no guest would notice.

They sold the inn and she tried her hand at interior decorating before moving back to Mays Chapel, Maryland. She worked as an admissions director at a senior care community where she met her second husband, Tom Foster. They moved to Heritage Harbor in Annapolis where Joan became very active in the vibrant art circles of the Maryland Federation of Art and Maryland Hall. She continued to travel and played tennis and golf with a great group of lively, active friends. She moved to Ginger Cove to enjoy the stress free caring community. Always seen painting away in the art room, she created works much to the delight of the other residents. She was well known in the dining room for always getting an Arnold Palmer, a Mediterranean salad with a slice of avocado and then picking out the chick peas because she thought they were fattening. "Just give me a half portion" she would always say, so she had room for the "one ball" of ice cream she craved every night.

She sent a beautiful message in the sky when she departed to remind us of her colorful life and to assure us, she finally found the rainbow after the storm.

Joan is survived by her son Scott McGowan (Susan) of Louisville, Kentucky, son Bruce Monahan (Nannette) of Ocean City, Maryland, daughter Mary Patricia (Bill) of Davidsonville, Maryland and Rodanthe, North Carolina and son Edwin Stanislaus III of Catonsville and Taylors Island, Maryland, who smartly goes by Ned. She is also survived by nine remarkable grandchildren, who each had a different name for her. To Scott Jr. (Maureen) and Stewart Howe (Rachel) she was Mimi, to Billy Sadtler and Megan Davis (Hunter) she was Memommy, to Bruce Jr (Amy) and Bethany Gallagher (John) she was Grandma and to Siena, Hawkins and Gibson, she was Nana. They blessed her with 11 Great Grandchildren, more on the way. Many nieces and nephews loved Aunt Joan dearly and no matter what anyone called her, she fiercely loved them all.

On Monday, June 3, 2024 there will be a private family burial at the New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland and a Celebration of Life at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis, MD, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Please join us and wear bright colors of the rainbow to honor our colorful gal!

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations in Mom's honor to Hospice of the Chesapeake Pasadena ( https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/ ) for their gracious care and comfort during her last moments OR Anne Arundel County CASA ( https://aacasa.org/ ) for their work in advocating for children needing safe, stable, permanent homes.