Joan Helen McCann

Joan Helen McCann, age 86, died peacefully on January 27, 2019 in her apartment at Arbor Terrace, after a long illness. Joan was born on March 6, 1932, in Bronx, New York, the daughter of Raymond Kennelly and Rose Pesce. She was widowed in 1994 and is survived by her 4 children, James and Dorothy McCann of Texas, Richard and Robyn McCann of Ohio, Brian and Donna McCann of Georgia and Maureen and Robert Schefferine of California; 10 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren and sister, Dorothy Fogerty of New Jersey. In 1952, Joan married the love of her life Jim McCann in The Bronx where they began their life together. They had their first child in 1954 and shortly thereafter a second child came and they moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey, and there a third came. Jim all along worked days and went to college at night. Soon thereafter they returned to their hometown in the Bronx and added a fourth child and Jim got his college degree. In 1969, they once again moved to New Jersey to continue raising their family in Marlboro. The children James, Richard, Brian and Maureen were blessed to have been raised in a loving Catholic home. Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, always interested in everyone's lives and future. She was a generous woman who on numerous times assisted and stepped in to help her grandchildren receive the education they needed to succeed in life. She was a constant sounding board for her children to discuss the various issues of life. Though her children spread out across the country, their bond with her remained through weekly (sometimes daily) discussions by phone. For many years, following the passing of her husband in 1994 she would rally her children and their families to Long Beach Island, New Jersey for a week long reunion and create many fond memories for all. Joan would always say that her greatest blessing was the fact that all her children turned out to be good people and was grateful to God for his hand in providing this to her. A memorial mass will be held at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Marlboro, NJ at a later date.