Joan Harrison Vallandingham Chicwak, 62, of Skipwith, Va., died June 21, 2012, at her residence.

Born June 8, 1950, in Leonardtown, she was the daughter of Lucy (Harrison) Vallandingham and the late James Howard Vallandingham Sr.

She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bryantown for years with her family. She taught CCD classes for four years. Joan and her husband, to whom she was married to for 42 years, had an upholstery business for 20 years. She became an insurance agent for awhile when she moved to Skipwith and later worked for Subway.

She loved dancing, gardening and all kinds of crafts.

She had been battling cancer since September 2009, when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer spread and returned in September 2010.

She is survived by her husband, Robert M. Chicwak; her children, Carmen L. Chicwak Walker (Todd) of Hughesville and Marla C. Chicwak Campbell (Bill) of White Plains; her five grandchildren, Ian Meyers, Ethan Meyers, Erica Campbell, Brooke Walker and Brett Walker; her mother, Lucy Vallandingham of Clements; her sisters, Lucy Anne Dixon (Harry), Judy Hudson (Lynn), Pat Clark (Phil), Melinda Ford (Tommy) and Milly Farrell (Bosie); and her brothers, Jim Vallandingham (Dana) and Irving “Freddie” Vallandingham (Lynn).

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother, Harrison Vallandingham; and two sisters, Susan Eyler and Monica Reyes.

The family received friends June 26 at Brinsfield Funeral Home in Leonardtown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today, June 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Morganza. Interment will follow at the Vallandingham Farm Cemetery in Clements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 N., Building A, Gambrills, MD 21054.