Obituary of Joan A Culver
Joan Ann Culver beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on December 13, 2024, at the age of 94. Born on October 17, 1930 in Bloomfield, NJ. Joan was the daughter of Albert and Arabella Mullen, one of six children. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, she was raised in East Orange and graduated from East Orange High School in 1948. While working at Anheuser-Busch in Newark as a payroll clerk for 14 years in the 1950s and 60s, she met her husband to be, Henry. They were married in 1961. Together they raised two children, Scott and Debra, in a loving family and home in South Plainfield.
After High School, Joan volunteered at the Veterans Hospital in East Orange in the late 1940s. She was also an avid bowler in several leagues in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Joan and Hank enjoyed a wonderful marriage for almost 50 years. Joan was an avid and very gifted gardener. She loved being outdoors, tending garden and watching the birds come to the feeders and bird bath. She treasured her Friday night “Club Night” with her sisters and friends. She was a part-time secretary at Lynn Steel in South Plainfield, retiring in 1991. Joan faithfully attended Mass at her home parish, Our Lady of Fatima in Piscataway, where she was loved by the parish community. She enjoyed reading her Bible every day and also prayed the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other prayers daily at home and in Church. She was a faithful guardian at the parish chapel in Eucharistic Adoration each week for many years. She faithfully attended her son’s Bible study and faith formation classes on Wednesday nights for over a decade at the parish center. She will be remembered for her kind words, warm smile, and greetings to her loved ones and friends, “It’s good to see you,” or “It’s good to hear from you,” and “I’m praying for you.” She will be missed tremendously and be forever in our hearts.
She is survived by her son Scott of South Plainfield and daughter Debra Thomson of Manville. She was predeceased by her husband Henry Sr., her sisters Gloria Spohn, Janet Freeman (twin), Bella Vasco, Arlene Colacicco, brother Edward Mullen, and a stepson Henry Culver, Jr. She leaves behind a stepson William Culver (Janice) and their children Michele and Cherise, and grandson Jason Culver (Christine) and their children Kirsten, Samantha, and Justin.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 5-8pm in the McCriskin – Gustafson Home For Funerals 2425 Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield, NJ 07080.
Funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Piscataway, NJ 08854.
Immediately following the funeral mass, Joan will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Henry Sr. at Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
In honoring Joan’s memory, a kind word, greeting, gesture, or service to another person that would help bring joy into their life would be preferred. For those who wish to make a charitable contribution in her memory, donations can be made to the National Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, Massachusetts https://www.shrineofdivinemercy.org/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/ or to the South Plainfield Emergency Medical Services https://southplainfieldems.org/ which Joan supported.