Joni Delafield Chapin

Joni Delafield Chapin was born on July 22, 1935 into a large and loving New York family. There were six children in the family, three sisters and three brothers. Joni's mother, Helen Dean Delafield, was the heart of the family. Helen was a loving and caring person, a devoted mother, and she had a wonderful sense of humor. Joni's father, William Sloane Delafield, was a graduate of Princeton University and a World War II veteran.
Joni had a delightful, engaging personality and a wry sense of humor. She had quite a career as a young lady. Joni was a New York model, an actress, and a beauty contest winner. She also obtained a license as a counselor and practiced as a counselor, helping many people in the process.
However, what Joni most wanted to do was to follow in the footsteps of her own mother, and to be a mother herself. And, indeed, Joni and her husband were blessed with five children of their own, four sons and one daughter.
Joni and her family were Church members, and they were consistently involved in Church ministry, such as visiting lonely, elderly people and feeding homeless people. These were causes that were always close to Joni's heart. Joni spent her entire life being an instrument of God's Peace. Her prayer was that, when her work on earth was done, please, "Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home." And, on October 7, 2022, in God's Providence, Joni Delafield Chapin transitioned into eternal life.
A celebration of Joni's life was held on October 24, 2022 at Johnson Chapel AME Church, Santa Ana, California, and Joni was buried on October 26, 2022 at the Delafield family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Riverdale, New York.
Joni is survived by her husband, Louis, her daughter, Tami, her sons, Daniel and Brett, her brother David, and by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Joni was predeceased by her son Greggory in 1996, her son James in 2021, her parents, her brothers, William and Robert, and her sisters, Mary Newcomb and Deborah Morrison.
Joni's family, and all who knew and loved Joni, are grateful to God for blessing them with the loving, caring presence of Joni Delafield Chapin in their lives. Rest in Peace, dear Joni. We will love you forever.