Joanne Greenage Coppage's Obituary
Our mom passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 79 years old.
She had previously instructed that there was to be NO obituary. So we are not going to write one that states she was born on January 25, 1944 in Easton, MD to Robert James and Claire Hallowell Meredith.
We will not mention that she grew up on the family farm in Federalsburg, MD. Missing will be the story of how, while growing up, she worked on the farm milking her cow, tending chickens and many other chores in the mornings before heading to school. She graduated from Colonel Richardson High School in 1962. No where in print will it be stated that on January 24, 1963 she was married to William Gordon Greenage and had two children, Claire Marie and William Gordon, II (Billy).
They made their home in Preston, MD on Beechwood Farms. She worked at A.W. Sisk and Son in Preston until 1970 when she became the most beloved school bus driver in all of southern Caroline County. Bus 63 was famous for good music, last day of school shenanigans and for being ruled with an iron fist full of love. In the early 1980s, in addition to driving the bus, she began working at Preston Trucking Co. until its closure in 1999. She then worked at Xpert Xpress and in 2008 began working for Greg Koski Building and Construction. She retired from driving the bus in the spring of 2020 after 50 years of service. She continued working for Greg Koski until the time of her passing.
We won't be able to tell you that on August 29, 2009 she married Samuel Coppage of Preston, MD. No one will have the pleasure of learning that Joanne was a force to be reckoned with, full of spice, spirit, and spunk. She was feared by many and loved by all.
She had no problem telling you how she felt about things and would threaten to "cut you" if you crossed her. She would also give you the shirt off her back and was always there for those that needed her.
She had a burning love of animals and had several rescue dogs throughout the years. She had the biggest heart of gold for all of the people and animals that were fortunate enough to be loved by her.
Unfortunately, it will remain unknown that she was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, her sister Carolyn Mercer, her nephews Eddie Greenwood and Jimmy Mercer, and her beloved dogs Sissy, Lucky, Beauty, Lucky II and Suzie.
She is survived by her husband Sam, daughter Claire Bennett (Keith), son Billy (Carole), grandchildren Jonathan Noble (Sarah), KJ Bennett, Matthew Bennett, Samantha Greenage, Thomas Greenage and Michael Greenage, three great-grandchildren Elizabeth Noble, Alexandra Noble and Charlotte Noble, three sisters Beverly Adams, Barbara Coleman, Debbie Alvey and one brother RJ Meredith, numerous nieces and nephews as well as her dogs Buddy, Bailee, Tippy, Chloe and Molly.
Services will be private per her request. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Preston Volunteer Fire Co., Preston, MD from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. All are welcome to attend and share their stories. Light refreshments will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her honor to her favorite charity Hill Hounds Animal Rescue and Sanctuary at www.hillhounds.org and click "Support Us" or mail to Hill Hounds P.O. Box 202 Denton, MD 21629.
We love our mommy so very much and will miss her tremendously for the rest of our lives.
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