Josephine May Richardson

Josephine (Jo) Richardson died September 28, 2024 She was 96 years old.
Jo was born at Newton Barton Farm, Devon, England on August 8, 1928 to Betty and Percy Stanbury. She grew up learning to ride her pony, put on plays and explore the countryside. She and her family survived bombings of the cathedral city Exeter during World War II. When she was 18, Jo moved to London for work in the fashion industry.
Jo converted to Catholicism during her time in London and her faith played a major role during her life. She learned to speak French while serving as an au pair in France and that gave her an advantage when she applied and was hired as a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) stewardess in 1952. Jo flew the Africa and Far East air routes and that is how she met dashing BOAC flight engineer, Thomas Richardson. They married in 1954.
The family moved to the United States in 1958 and lived in many cities, including New York, Seattle, Alexandria, Va., Los Angeles and Herndon, Virginia. Jo's love of theater continued throughout her life. In California, she directed numerous plays for the Fountain Valley Children's Theater and Cornelia Connelly High School. She studied early childhood development at Orange Coast College and eventually became the director of the Blake Preschool School in Sterling, Virginia.
Tom and Jo retired to the Delmarva coast in 1987, a place where they had taken their three children for summer holidays for many years. The couple began to volunteer at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View. They provided weekly tutoring in reading and expression. Jo continued the work for more than twenty years after her husband died in 1998. Many of the children grew up and were delighted when their children also got to spend time every Tuesday morning of second grade with Mrs. Richardson.
The couple also volunteered with CHEER for a 40-mile weekly Meals on Wheels delivery route. Jo continued to deliver meals with the help of friends up until 2020.
Their devotion to the shelter and food pantry Casa San Francisco in Milton and the people it served continued for many years. Jo would tutor immigrants eager to become US citizens. In 1993 Jo became a US citizen to fully participate in our democracy and vote. Two of her grandchildren were present when Jo was the citizen keynote speaker at the swearing in ceremony in Philadelphia, Pa.
In 2010, the Preceptor Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority nominated Jo for a national public service award. Out of all the worthy nominees from around Delmarva, WBOC TV 16 named Jo Richardson the regional Jefferson Volunteer Award winner. That summer, Jo traveled to Washington, D.C. for a whirlwind of activities with winners from all 50 states. Accompanied by her children and their spouses, Jo was recognized for her outstanding volunteer legacy.
A longtime lector and eucharistic minister at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Jo's British accent and dramatic bible readings delighted parishioners and visitors alike. She was a member of St. Ann's Sodality and the women supported Jo's annual Christmas giving to seniors who live in Luther Towers housing in Milton. Jo was an active member of Voice of the Faithful, an organization of Catholics demanding justice for victims of clergy sexual abuse and transparent accounting of church finances.
Jo Richardson lived her faith by her deeds. She would always say that giving time and talent brought immense joy and purpose to her life. A cancer survivor, Jo's commitment to service never wavered.
She loved the people of Delmarva, the ocean and especially her peaceful, colorful garden created by her husband over the years they spent in Frankford.
Jo was preceded in death by husband Thomas in 1998, sister Mary Otton and son-in-law Lisle Hebert. She is survived by daughters, Anne Marie (Don) South Pasadena, Ca.; Claire, Juneau, AK.; son, Stephen (Sheryl), Arlington, TN.; and honorary son Mark Wind (Lee) and their daughter, Gavrielle; grandchildren Dustin (Erica), Jessica (Dennis), Gabriella, and Mat; great-grandchildren Owen, Dean, Dex and Juniper.
The family would like to thank those who lovingly cared for Jo at home and at The Moorings in Lewes, including Marketta Harlow and Orthea Quah, the nurses and Moorings staff, and to St. Ann's parishioners and friends who delivered communion faithfully to Jo when she was no longer able to attend mass in person.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Monday, October 14th, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 35318 Church Road, Frankford, DE. 19945. Interment will be private.
Donations in memory of Jo Richardson may be made to the charity of your choice or to Casa San Francisco, P.O. BOX 38 Milton, DE. 19968.
Condolences may be sent to Jo's family: C/O Anne Marie Richardson Gibbs, 605 Indiana Place, South Pasadena, Ca. 91030.