Joyce Lynn Friedman

Joyce Friedman, 67, of Morris Plains NJ passed away on March 14, 2018 following a long fight against peritoneal cancer. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 16th at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman funeral home.

Joyce was born on July 26, 1950 in Oakland, California to Nathan and Reba Whitgob. As a child, she enjoyed participating in Campfire Girls, attending Camp Swig, playing flute, and playing with her cat, Kookie. Her family belonged to Temple Sinai, where her brother Steve is still a member with his family. Joyce graduated college at U.C. Berkeley and then went on to get her master’s at San Francisco State. She completed post-graduate work at NYU, specializing in education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. She spent several years teaching the deaf and was fluent in American Sign Language.

Always the adventurer, Joyce moved across the country to New York City while in her twenties, and later worked for New York Telephone and AT&T in a variety of positions, including heading AT&T’s operator-assisted services for the deaf. While in New York, she met Bill, the man who would become her husband, at a Soviet Jewry march. Joyce and Bill were happily married for 32 years, living in New Jersey, and had two children together.

Joyce lived each day to the fullest and was known for her infectious smile and cheerful attitude. She is also remembered for her snazzy fashion sense. She loved traveling, especially with Bill by her side. Joyce was a big fan of jazz music, and she and Bill loved attending concerts and music festivals together. She devoted her life to helping others, both through lending a hand to her many friends whenever it was needed and through her extensive charity work, often in leadership roles. Some of her notable positions included admissions director at Hebrew Academy of Morris County, where her children also attended school; chair of the Jewish Federation’s Super Sunday phonathon and chair of its Business and Professional Women’s Division; Girl Scouts troop leader; and chair of the Rachel Coalition, an organization supporting victims of domestic abuse.

An avid knitter and a voracious reader, Joyce was an enthusiastic member of a knitting circle and of various book clubs. Joyce was a crafty and creative woman, designing many elaborate costumes for her children on Purim and Halloween, and throwing wonderful themed birthday parties. She loved to entertain her many friends and had an array of festive decorations that adorned the table at various holidays, including Thanksgiving and Chanukah.

She is survived by her husband Bill, daughter Natalie (Gary), son Jesse, brother Steve (Barbara), and nieces Emily and Julia.