Family and friends are heartbroken to share the loss of Joan Kellogg "Jodie" Weddle, born November 13, 1930, who passed two months after her 95th birthday on Thursday, January 15, 2026. She was a light and a love to many over those years, from her hometown in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to her longtime home in Hagerstown, Maryland, to a retirement retreat with husband Richard "Dick" Weddle in Big Pine Key, Florida. Richard passed on her birthday nine years ago, in 2016, after 64 years of marriage. For the past three and a half years she created even more bonds at Country Meadows Retirement Home in Frederick, Maryland.

Mom / Grandma / Aunt Joan / "Jodie" spent her high school years at her beloved Northfield School for Girls in Massachusetts, then went to Hood College in Frederick, Maryland where she met her husband "Dick." Three children came in rapid succession after graduating Hood with a degree in early childhood education. Jodie and Dick started Weddle's Riding School at a rented farm when their youngest child was still a baby. They bought their own farm in 1960 and ran the horseback riding school, summer camp and boarding stable on Beaver Creek Road for the next 20 plus years. Jodie also specialized and taught special education in Washington County Schools during those years. Jodie and Dick retired to Big Pine Key, Florida in the early '80s, where Dick became a commercial fisherman and Jodie a hospice volunteer. Jodie started serious bicycling in her late '40s, and went on many bicycling trips in New England, along the C&O Canal, the Florida Keys, and several different countries.

Three and a half years ago Jodie moved to Country Meadows Retirement Home in Frederick, Maryland, where she made new friends and took up story writing. Those collected stories reveal a life of early loss (her mother died when she was 13), romance, the challenges of juggling work and family, love of travel, devotion to her extended family and friends, service to others, and finally, the many challenges of growing older with grace, compassion, and – always – her faith. She was a long-time member of Benevola United Methodist Church in Boonsboro, with an expansive and all-embracing spirituality.

Joan is survived by her three children, Judith Lee, David Richard and James Kenneth Weddle, their spouses, Osama Elshafie, Kathy Weddle and Bonnie Weddle, respectively, six grandchildren – Jason Weddle, Jennifer Smith, Jeremiah Weddle, Jamie Derr, Sara Elshafie, and Erin Weddle, their spouses, and eleven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews and their children, and too many friends to count. There is a big tear in our hearts today. She would want us to let the light of spirit shine through it, to sustain us through our loss.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, January 18 at Benevola United Methodist Church, 19925 Benevola Church Road, Boonsboro, Maryland. Visitation at 1:00 pm, Service at 2:00 pm. Donations can be made to Frederick Health Hospice and Benevola UMC.