Carolyn Joyce Kaskow

Joyce Kaskow, 81, of Marco Island, FL peacefully left this world on May 7th with her husband Bill at her side. Born Joyce Fischer to Marjorie and George Fischer of Dayton, Ohio, she was the oldest of 8 children and provided her mother a lot of support in raising her 7 younger brothers. Three brothers survive her today, those being Tom, Ronnie, and Chris, all of Dayton, Ohio. Four of her brothers predeceased her, Gary, Ricky, Mike, and David.

Joyce attended Catholic schools from grammar school through High School. She cherished the traditions that Catholic school provided. One of her fondest memories from high school was attending mass on Friday and getting a hot chocolate and a bun at the cafeteria afterward. Her favorite high school activities were softball and basketball and she and her father shared a love of athletics, especially the University of Dayton Flyer’s basketball squad.

Upon graduating high school, Joyce went on to work for TopValue Company in Dayton, Ohio. In 1962, at a Catholic Columbian sponsored dance, she met her future husband, Bill Kaskow, who was a sophomore at the University of Dayton. They were engaged to be married in 1963 and tied the knot on Aug 22, 1964. They began married life in Ridgefield, NJ and soon after relocated to the Jersey Shore.

Joyce loved raising her girls on West Point Island, in Lavallette, NJ where Joyce played beach volleyball with friends on the West Point Island Bay Beach. Many days were spent taking their daughters out by boat to go crabbing, fishing, water skiing, cruising the Barnegat Bay, watching fireworks and the like. Joyce loved doing walks with family and friends on the Lavallette boardwalk and in later years on the Gulf of Mexico. Many times she would walk “the Lavallette boards” with her friend Patti and they would sneak in a quick cocktail at the Crab Claw. Joyce loved plays and would make it a point to have her family occasionally spend a day in NYC to see a Broadway play.

While raising her children she earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Georgian Court College, Magnum Cum Laude. She began her teaching career at Saint Joes Elementary School and afterwards became the Seaside Heights Elementary School Reading Specialist, which became her most rewarding career. Teaching children with dyslexia and reading problems was her passion. She became trained in the Wilson Reading Program and eventually became a trainer for teachers within both Monmouth and Ocean Counties. All of her adult children began to refer to her as the “Wilson Lady”.

Later on in her life, Joyce welcomed and adored all her grandchildren and was affectionally named “Grammy” and “Mimi”. She would bring the grandkids to the Lavallette library to pick out books and movies. She walked them to the park in Ortley Beach where they would feed the ducks before going on the playground. She loved listening to her granddaughter Isabella play the piano. Joyce appreciated art and loved anything with a pretty picture and vibrant colors. She made it a tradition to give a goodie bag and many times put handmade cards in each of the bags for her grandchildren. A tray of her famous Mac and Cheese was always a favorite meal for everyone. She played cards, dominoes, and ping pong with her adult children and grandchildren. She would often go to the Algonquin in Manasquan, NJ. Joyce was always how proud of how her grandsons Will and Jake played football throughout high school and made it a point to go to their games. She loved to talk about Will and Jakes appreciation of fishing and boating. She also loved seeing her grandsons Tyler and Carter play baseball and was proud of their love for the game. She enjoyed boxing with her grandson Liam in the basement and would share stories of her brother Tom’s boxing career with him.

Joyce had many interests and goals. She was determined to learn the Spanish language and practiced incorporating Spanish into her daily routine for many years. She also loved the card game of Mahjong and played with friends in the Lavallette and Marco Island area. Joyce was passionate with her faith and enjoyed volunteering at Saint Catherine’s Church library in Seaside Park, NJ and other Catholic charities. In later years, she continued practicing her faith at San Marco Catholic Church on Marco Island. She was affectionally named “Church Lady” by her family. She also had a great appreciation for her husband Bill’s talent with cooking the “catch of the day” whether it be fish or crabs caught in Barnegat Bay. Many family meals with their children and grandkids were on the beautiful back deck of their home overlooking the lagoon in Ortley Beach, NJ or at their condo, the Villa Del Mar on the Marco Bay. Other hobbies and interests of Joyce’s included reading the Epoch Times, walking, biking, kayaking, Tai Chi and yoga.

Joyce is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, William Kaskow of Marco Island, FL; her three daughters, their three spouses and six grandchildren. Terese and Steve Glasser of Marco Island, FL and children Will and Jake. Andrea and Tim Feldmann of Sea Girt, NJ and children Isabella and Liam. Fran and Josh White of North Naples, FL and their children Tyler and Carter.

For the past four years, Joyce courageously fought Parkinson’s Disease. She participated in OT and Speech at NCH on Marco Island and Rock Steady Boxing at the YMCA. She made great friendships at both. Whoever had the good fortune to meet Joyce felt the love of life she gave to us all. She will be forever missed and loved.

A Funeral Mass will be held on May 25th at San Marco Catholic Church at 11 am.

Donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to AVOW Hospice in Naples, FL or to the Marco Island YMCA Rock Steady boxing Program.