Joanne K. O'Meara, 90, of Towson, MD, passed away on 9/16/24 after a few months of declining health.

Joanne was born on April 18,1934 to Ethel and Carlos Keene in Washington, DC. Her other family included brother Harry Michael Keene (deceased) and sister Mary Lynn (Keene)Greaves. After Joanne graduated from Seton High school in Baltimore, Maryland she held several different jobs and found a great position as an administrative assistant for Mr. Reeder, VP for Union Trust Bank located in downtown Baltimore. During her tenure at the bank, she became active in the American Institute of Banking. More importantly Joanne met Bill O'Meara as he was a frequent customer of the bank, and they began to date. In September of 1958 they married and settled at his family home "Gayfield Farms" a beautiful farm located on the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County. Bill and Joanne soon welcomed Mary Theresa, their first and only child August 7, 1959.

A few years later the family moved to a new home in Providence near Annapolis, Maryland. Bill introduced his family to all things sailing and boating. Over the years the family enjoyed adventures such as a trip on the boat to the World's Fair in Montreal, Canada. This three-week trip traversed many nautical miles, locks, canals, Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence seaway. Many hours of sailing and local boating trips were always the summer norm in our family. Joanne and Bill enjoyed gardening, entertaining friends and family at their home. One of the memorable events was Lynn and Nick Greaves' wedding reception. Joanne saw to every detail with her masterful eye especially when it involved flowers and party planning. Her sister's wedding was a day that none of our family ever forgot. Joanne went into floral designing full time and her specialty was always weddings. She found her passion and showered many brides with her creative floral designs and grand ability to make the reception perfect in every way.

In 1974 Bill O'Meara passed away and Joanne and Terri relocated to Towson. Joanne worked at the American Cancer Society for several years. Joanne enjoyed duckpin bowling and was active in the Fellowship Forest community where she lived for several years. Eventually she decided to pursue a lifelong goal, and she went to Towson University for her bachelor's degree graduating with honors. She drifted back to her wedding work and was the lead wedding designer with Radebaugh's Flowers for several years until she retired. Joanne taught floral design through Community College of Baltimore County Adult learning for many years. She also worked as an operations assistant at Carver School for the adult learning program for many years supporting the evening programs.

Joanne's quintessential gifts were listening and giving of herself. She had the unique talent of being present to everyone she met and engaged with. She loved people, their stories, and rejoiced in hearing all the details you wanted to share. It pleased her to fix meals, bake treats and pack boxes of homemade candies for the special people in our lives. Every December she would get all the ingredients for the handmade chocolate graham crackers, pretzels, and the best roasted pecans ever. She decorated and made every holiday

something magical. Her house looked like something out of a magazine with tiny white lights, a Victorian Christmas tree and a festival of angels throughout the house. It always seemed effortless because she loved making it special for all who came to visit.

Joanne is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill O'Meara and her Aunt Mary and Uncle Aubrey Filliaux. She is survived by her daughter Terri (O'Meara) Palazzo (Michael), her sister Lynn Greaves and the following nieces and nephews: Judy (Keene) Greene, Kim (Keene) Kaestner, Michael J. Keene, Mary (Greaves) Jones, Nicolas Greaves and Jason Greaves

Family visitation will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Ruck's Funeral home, 1050 York Road, Towson, MD. from 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Stella Maris chapel, 2300 Dulaney Valley Rd, Timonium, MD on October 9,2024 at 11am.

Donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society in memory of Joanne K. O'Meara.