Obituary of Joan DeCroce

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Joan Irene DeCroce.   Please keep Joan and her family in your prayers. 

Joan I. (nee Zimmerman) DeCroce passed peacefully at CareOne at Morris with her family at her side on March 19th, 2020 at the age of 86.

Born in Newark, New Jersey to the late Frederick and Irene Zimmerman, Joan along with her late brother Walter, blessed their family. After her high school graduation in 1951, she started her working career.  Working for multiple companies as a switch board operator and customer service representative in Newark, she worked most memorably for Bell Telephone Co. She married her devoted husband, Jerry DeCroce on August 15th, 1959; spending many years of their beautiful lives together before Jerry’s passing in 2007.

Joan loved playing Bingo, reading and family trips to Wildwood but above all, the sun rose and set on her granddaughters.  She was a proud mom and a devoted mum-mum.  She loved spending time with the the girls and sharing their lives with her friends. Everyone who was blessed to meet her are luckier for it.  She loved everyone and you knew it.  Joan truly was a burst of sunshine in this world, having many friends through the years who loved her. Her and her husband were one of the first residents to settle into Cooks Pond Senior Housing in Denville.  Her "Cooks Pond Family" was incredible and she was blessed to have 19 wonderful years there.  Although we are saddened by her passing, she has shared 86 years of love and friendship with everyone she met. We take comfort in knowing she is with Jerry again and watching over her family with love and pride.

She leaves beautiful memories to her daughter, Donna, and son in law, Donald Westdyk; her adored granddaughters, Jessica Lynn and Brianna Nicole Holster; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. 

A Graveside service will be held on Monday, March 23rd at 12:00pm at the Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield.  As we navigate the times, we find ourselves in new waters.  We respectfully ask that you keep us in your hearts as our immediate family only is permitted at the cemetery.  We will attempt to have services recorded and added to this webpage. Thank you for your love and support. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate in Joan’s memory to the amazing work of St. Jude Childrens' Research Hospital.

Joan has donated to the organization throughout the years to support the selfless work they do.