Joan Katherine Akerlind

Born in NYC on January 10, 1930 to Mabel L. & James G. Campion. In her early years Joan had fond memories of playing in Central Park & summers at Rockaway Beach. Joan went to Cathedral High School & worked at the phone company.

On September 30, 1950 Joan married John L. Akerlind, & moved from NYC in 1952, into the home they had built in Woodcliff Lake, NJ where they raised their five children.

Joan lived in Woodcliff Lake from 1952-2019. While there, her family kept her quite busy! She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy & Our Lady Mother of the Church.

As the children grew Joan returned to work. Her career at Medical Economics/Thomson Reuters as the Production Art Associate for the Physicians Desk Reference lasted 28 years. She forged many lifelong friendships there, retiring at the age of 78.

In her later years Joan was a member of the Woodcliff Lake Seniors. She loved knitting & crocheting, & will be remembered for the countless quilts she made for so many. She loved sewing as well & would always be happy to mend anything for anyone anytime!

All summer long she could be found in her favorite spot at The Old Mill town pool. She often shared how grateful she was for her good health & the successes of her children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren. She enjoyed attending & hearing about their activities including baseball games, plays & concerts.

Joan reminisced about her trips to North Dakota, Bermuda, the Grand Canyon, Disney, North Carolina, & Maine. Along with shore trips to Spring Lake, LBI & Point Pleasant. Those moments will always be cherished!

After moving to Cedar Crest in 2019, Joan played bocce & loved taking day trips, but her favorite pastime was being part of the comedy club & she never stopped telling jokes. She loved wearing her many shirts with their humorous sayings. Joan loved being known as The Cookie Lady & would give Trader Joe's treats to everyone she encountered. She loved living there & sitting out on the patio in the sun. She will be greatly missed and forever loved by all!

Joan passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Villa Marie Claire, Saddle River NJ.

Joan is survived by her five children Patricia DeWald (Bob), John Akerlind (Diane), Joan Zaborowski (Gary), Susan Johnson (Russ), Catherine McGrath (Michael); ten grandchildren Richard Hromin, Alison Hromin, Philip Zaborowski (Lynsy), Joseph Zaborowski, Andrew Zaborowski (Stephanie), Ian Johnson, Caroline DeWald, Grace Johnson, John McGrath, Grady Johnson, and Christopher McGrath; and her three great grandchildren, Paige Hromin, Ryan Hromin, and Mabel Zaborowski.

Joan was predeceased by her husband John L. Akerlind in 1986.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Foundation For Fighting Blindness https://www.fightingblindness.org/ P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, MD 21297-5740 or The Seeing Eye https://seeingeye.org/ P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375.

Funeral arrangements made by Becker Funeral Home, Westwood, NJ. Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday May 17th from 1-5 pm at Becker Funeral Home Westwood. Interment will be held privately.