Joanne Decker | Physician, 44

Joanne Decker, 44, of Jenkintown, a specialist in emergency pediatric medicine, died of brain cancer Monday at home.

From 1998 until last year, Dr. Decker worked in the emergency department at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Many children and their families were comforted by her warmth, humor, intelligence, and respect, said her husband, Dennis Durbin.

A native of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Dr. Decker earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester and a medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. She completed a pediatric residency at CHOP and a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where she was an attending physician for four years.

She was a gourmet cook, her husband said, and enjoyed yoga, Bruce Springsteen, reading with her children, and spending time with them at the beach in Rhode Island. She was a member of All Hallows Episcopal Church in Wyncote.

In addition to her husband, Dr. Decker is survived by a daughter, Madeleine; sons Jack and Will; her parents, Constance and Robert Decker; and two brothers.

A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 8000 St. Martin's Lane, Philadelphia.