Obituary of JoAnn Sopchak

JoAnn Sopchak, 56, of Upper Deerfield Township, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 20, 2015 at her home. JoAnn was born in Camden to the late Paul Sopchak and Helen DiMedio Sopchak. After being raised in Camden and Gibbsboro, JoAnn moved with her family to Spring, Texas at the age of 12. After graduating from Texas A&M University, she moved back to New Jersey and resided in Ocean City for the next 20 years. JoAnn then moved to a farmhouse in Upper Deerfield Township in 2014. JoAnn graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Floriculture. She was working on her Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education at Iowa State University. She was also a graduate student in Rowan University’s Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certification Program. JoAnn was a certified nurseryman in Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Jersey. She was employed by the Cape May County Board of Education at the Cape May County Technical High School as an agricultural education teacher and a past FFA Advisor. She was previously employed by Tom’s Garden World in Mays Landing; Cumberland Regional High School as an agricultural education teacher; Cumberland County College as an adjunct professor of Horticulture, and the Marlboro Farm Market and Garden Center. She was a member of the New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators where she had served as president; the National Association of Agricultural Educators; the New Jersey FFA Foundation as the past Chair, and the Cape May County Beach Plum Association. JoAnn received many accolades throughout her career including: New Jersey Agriscience Teacher of the Year in 2006 and 2009; National Agriscience Teacher of the Year (first runner-up) in 2009; New Jersey FFA Advisor of the Year; the 2011 Outstanding Secondary Agricultural Education Program by the National Association of Agricultural Educators for Region 6 and the New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators, and the Stephen A. Johnston Agricultural Person of the Year citation. JoAnn also served as a presenter at various agricultural/horticultural organizations throughout Cape May County. In her free time, JoAnn enjoyed: spending time with friends and family; attending Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles games; kayaking; visiting the Ocean City beach; gardening, planting, and landscaping; reading, and cooking. She was a huge fan of Snoopy and her Texas A&M Aggies. She loved life and always had a smile on her face. JoAnn’s true passion was teaching and always put her students first. She is survived by: her brother, Thomas Sopchak and his wife, Sharon of Spring, TX; her sister, Paula Woodstrom and her husband, David of Katy, TX; triplet nephews—Ethan, Aiden, and Colin Sopchak; her best friend, Diane Garrison and her family of Pittsgrove, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and students. She was preceded in death by many aunts, uncles, and other family members. Funeral services will be held at the Deerfield United Methodist Church, 1557 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Twp., New Jersey on Monday, April 27th at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Deerfield United Methodist Church prior to the service. An evening visitation will be held on Sunday, April 26th at the Padgett Funeral Home, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Flowers are appreciated. For those desiring to make memorial contributions, the family requests that donations be made to the Cape May County Technical High School for the JoAnn Sopchak Memorial Scholarship in Agriscience, 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210, Attn: JoAnn Sopchak Memorial Scholarship Fund. Written condolences can be sent to the family at the funeral home website at www.padgettfuneralhomes.com.