Joanne Amelia Sheffel

Joanne Amelia Sheffel, age 91, a long-term resident of Wyckoff, New Jersey and, later, Sarasota, Florida, passed away on Saturday August 26, 2023. She was born August 30, 1931 in Ridgewood, New Jersey to the late Fredrick Raymond Hoffman Jr. and Harriet Saywell (Lawrence) Hoffman. Joanne grew up in Midland Park, New Jersey and spent her summers in Lanesville, Massachusetts, enjoying the salty air of Cape Ann and Gloucester. She graduated from Pompton Lakes High School and subsequently attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, earning her Associate of Arts degree. Joanne returned home and was employed at Midland Park Lumber Company until her marriage to Joseph Patrick Sheffel, Jr. She and her husband resided in Wyckoff for much of their marriage.

Joanne was an active member of the local elementary school Parent-Teacher Organization in Wyckoff and later served the Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional High School District where she was elected President of the Board of Education. Following her retirement from the Board of Education, she established a very successful independent business called ‘The Wedding Coach.’ This unique limousine service operated in the northern NJ area for more than 10 years.

Joanne was also active in the New Jersey Arabian Horse Association and served for several years as secretary for their annual horse show. In addition, she served as a volunteer at Valley Hospital in NJ as well as a volunteer tour guide at Moat Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota FL. Joanne enjoyed horseback riding, water skiing, traveling, knitting, and looking out over the water.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Farin, Theresa Ann Rapp, Patricia Josephine Cundari (Mitchell), Linda Joyce Sheffel (Frank Begnoche) and Deborah Jean Kicinski (Richard); 12 cherished grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Joanne is also survived by her sister, Katharine Hoffman Senn, brother, Frederick Raymond Hoffman III, and brother, Joseph Kevin Hoffman. She is preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Grace and Nick Vander Wall; daughter, Joanne Amelia Tidwell, son-in-law, Peter W. Farin; son-in-law, James Rapp Sr; grandson, Joseph DeGraw, sister, Harriet Hoffman Kerr, and husband of 56 years, Joseph Patrick Sheffel, Jr.

A graveside service will be held at noon on Friday, November 3rd at Maryrest Cemetery, 770 Darlington Ave, Mahwah, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, http://parkinson.org/.