Joan Semple Jump

JUMP, Joan Haines Semple was born on January 4, 1933 in Philadelphia, PA, and passed from this life on November 24, 2012 at Kettering Memorial Hospital in Kettering, OH. She was the only daughter of Dorothy and Joseph Semple of Haddonfield, NJ. Joan was a graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School. As a student, she was piano accompanist for all the school choirs and a member of the National Honor Society and in the top 1% of her class, graduating with honors. After graduation from high school, she attended Douglass College, New Brunswick, NJ and received a BA in music education, graduating cum laude in 1954. Later, she received a Masters of Music Education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She taught vocal music in New Jersey for 37 years and taught in Barrington, West Deptford, and Sterling High School. The balance of her career was spent in the Cherry Hill School District teaching elementary music education. Joan was the director of the All Cherry Hill Elementary fifth and sixth grade district chorus for 25 years. As well as being an outstanding vocal music teacher, Joan was an accomplished organist and pianist and used that talent as an organist in a number of churches in the Haddonfield-Cherry Hill area. Another musical activity was as piano accompanist for the New Jersey Junior Miss Pageant for a number of years. Her life was fairly normal until she received an unexpected visit in August 1992 from a childhood playmate, who later became her boyfriend/sweetheart during their college days. They had parted "just friends" and lost touch with each other as it often happens. He was on an extended vacation and had come to Haddonfield to see family. This fellow was Bruce Jump. They went out to dinner and spent time together sightseeing for almost a week. This was the start of a serious romance that had been placed on hold since 1954. Bruce had a job and had to return to Dayton, OH. He called her several times during the next week and when she asked what he was doing Labor Day he said "not much, cleaning up the place and just hanging out." Joan replied that that didn't sound like much fun. He asked her what she would suggest and she said, "Why don't you come back to Haddonfield and see me." He replied that sounded like a good idea and came back to spend the Holiday weekend with her. The rest is history. During that weekend they talked about marriage and became engaged that Thanksgiving and married the next June. Joan continued to teach music in Cherry Hill until June of 1995 when both of them got tired of a long distance romance (even though building up frequent flyer miles) and Joan retired from teaching and moved to Kettering. Before retiring and later after moving to Kettering, both Bruce and Joan were able to travel extensively in England, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel. They also enjoyed the British West Indies during a cruise. But the trip they especially enjoyed was a Dartmouth College sponsored trip to Australia in 1998. Another trip with close friends to Alaska was truly outstanding. Joan enjoyed the times that Bruce took her as a guest to Kettering Rotary whenever there was a program that would interest her. She was surprised and honored when made a Paul Harris Fellow, one of Rotary's highest honors. As Joan stated many times, "music is my life," and after moving to Kettering she substituted at several local churches, played for weddings, and constantly practiced the piano. When asked to try out for a position as the organist at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Kettering, she decided that might be a good idea. She auditioned and was asked to become the permanent organist. When it was determined that the church should have a new organ, Joan was asked to serve on the committee to recommended and select an organ that would be appropriate for the sanctuary. They selected a Reuter Pipe Organ which was installed in late 2001 in time for Christmas. She was the organist at St. Charles for over six years until she had to resign because of an illness that no longer allowed her full use of both hands. She told her husband Bruce and others that it was one of the saddest days of her life. Joan no longer could play the organ or piano in public as she had since she was 6 years old. Few people realize what a battle Joan put up against cancer, overcoming the disease three times. Even though she beat the cancer, some of the cures caused problems later in her life, such as the radiation treatments that eventually led to congestive heart failure and deterioration of her back, which then caused restrictive lung capacity bringing on pulmonary hypertension. At the same time all of this is going on, she developed lymphedema, which restricted the use of her right arm and hand to the point where she could no longer play the piano or organ. The arm further deteriorated to where she was unable to grasp an object and had to stop driving. It wasn't long after that Joan lost all feeling and use of the right arm. Through all of the problems, she never lost her smile and pleasant disposition. Joan was the most loving wife and appreciated all that could be done for her. In January 2012, she had to be hospitalized with pneumonia and spent three months in rehab at Bethany Village. After Joan's release from Bethany in late March, she and Bruce were able to secure help for Joan's care at home through Bethany's Hands at Home. Her chief caregiver was Carole Carlson, who helped Joan cope with her problems in everyday life. Carole become more than a caregiver and became a close friend and confidant. The family wishes to thank everyone at Bethany for all the care and support shown to Joan from January until her death in November. Joan, while writing her own obituary, wanted everyone to know she is survived by her beloved husband Bruce and adored son John Bastian and daughter-in-law, Carol of Moorestown, NJ. She also wanted everyone to know how much she loved and cared for her step-children: Bruce Jr. of Livingston, NJ; Stephanie Taylor and husband Jeremy of Singapore; and Tyler Jump and wife Amy of Kettering. As well as her step-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Victoria, Nicholas, Anna, Georgina, Harry, Gregory, Joshua and Dylan, and step-great-granddaughter Ellianna. Joan is also survived by her cousin, Edith Barratt, 99 years old, a resident of Bethany Village who cared for Joan's mother to enable Joan to continue to teach, and also her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bernard and Elizabeth Jump of Kettering. Joan was deeply loved and was the closest best friend of her husband Bruce. For him, her loss is monumental and she will always be in his thoughts and prayers until they meet once again in the hereafter life. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan's name can be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor, 476 Riddle Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45220-2493; or to your favorite charity.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429