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When Joan first arrived at QVC way back in 1991, everyone was abuzz wondering what she would be like in person. I was the first host to work with Joan and I was so nervous. However, I figured we would make a good combo since she was funny and I am not. 

Our first show went well and as Joan left the set she turned to me and said, "Good-bye, my darling!" That little sign of affection made me fall in love with Joan and I have loved her for 25 years!

I was pregnant with our second son, Cory, when Joan first arrived at the Q. So, while I was on maternity leave, Joan began working with Kathy Levine and it was a match made in heaven! Those two were cut from similar cloth and made us all laugh until our sides hurt!

Over the next several years, many of us hosted with Joan and here's what I noticed:

• Joan was a perfectionist. She wanted everything to be as flawless as possible from the quality of her jewelry to the lighting on the set, to the outfits the models wore, as well as her relationships with the hosts. But it was all good, as that's how she rose to be the "Grand Dame of QVC"! The main reason she wanted everything to be perfect was for you ... the woman at home watching and shopping for Joan's things.

• Joan cared so deeply for each one of you who watched her. She loved to talk to callers during the show and it was important to her you were happy and satisfied with her products once you got them home. 

• She not only cared about you, she cared about us. She didn't have to, but she did! 

When Cory, Ryan and Elizabeth were born, she sent a nice gift. When Elizabeth was 4 years old and was very sick with something her doctors were having difficulty diagnosing, Joan offered to help. She said she knew people at both John's Hopkins and Mt. Sinai and said she could get Elizabeth in right away to either place with a phone call. We never did take her up on her generous offer, as our doctors figured it all out soon after Joan's offer. But that's just who Joan was - a generous, caring person who was always willing to help.

I will never forget one time when Joan and I were together and I was pregnant with our third son, Ryan. I was telling Joan that we found out the baby was a boy and we has been hoping for a girl, because we already had two boys. Joan looked at m and said, "Mary Beth someday you'll walk into a restaurant with 4 handsome men following you .... your husband and three young men in suits and ties and you will be the Queen Bee. You will be one proud Queen Bee!" 

I never forgot that and 15 years later, on the day of Eric's college graduation (which also happened to be on Mother's Day), we walked into a nice restaurant in Washington, D.C. and I happened to turn around and guess what I saw? There was my husband, Mark with our sons Eric, Cory and Ryan. They were all dressed up and just looked so incredibly handsome. 

Right out loud I said, "Joan, you were right; I am one proud Queen Bee!" Of course the icing on the cake was that our 10-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was following right behind Ryan. I AM one very blessed Queen Bee, that's for sure!

Thank you, Joan, for your friendship, kindness, generosity, wisdom and laughter. I will miss you terribly and so will everybody else who loved you!!

Counting our blessings, 

Mary Beth Roe