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DePaul Catholic High School Montclair State University Rutgers University

FUNERAL HOME

Bizub Quinlan Funeral Home - Van Houten

1313 Van Houten Ave.

Clifton, New Jersey

Joann Zakrzewski Obituary

ZAKRZEWSKI
Joann K., 31, a lifelong resident of Clifton, passed away on July 7, 2016. For the last six years, she has been a pre-school teacher of students with disabilities at School #16 in Clifton. In 2014, Joann received the Clifton Excellence in Education Award.
After graduating from DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne in 2003, Joann earned her Master's Degree in Special Education from Rutgers University in 2008. She has since completed her plus-30 credits at Montclair State University. As an avid traveler, Joann also completed a study abroad program in Spain and backpacked throughout Europe with her cousin and best friend, Melissa Wisniewski.
Joann was passionate about giving back to the community. She volunteered her time with and raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Autism Awareness. Joann even organized a Tricky Tray to grant a child's wish. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph R.C. Church in Passaic.
Joann cherished her family and especially her nephews who were her pride and joy; her "everything." She had a heart of gold, the sweetest kindest most giving person. She gave selflessly and always with a smile. She will be greatly missed by many and never forgotten.
Survivors include: her parents, Mark Zakrzewski and Christina (nee Lojek) Zakrzewska of Clifton; her sisters: Janet Zakrzewska of Linden, Cindy Abashkin and her husband, Roman, of Wayne and Michelle Zakrzewski of Clifton; two brothers: Eric Zakrzewski and his wife, Magdalena, of Wallington and Mark Zakrzewski, Jr. of Clifton; her grandmothers, Rosalia Zakrzewska of Clifton and Julia Lojek of Poland; her Godmother, Bozena Serafin; her nephew and Godson, Brandon Franke; nephews Nikolai and Alexei Abashkin; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held Monday July 11th at 12:00 noon at St. Joseph R.C. Church, 7 Parker Ave., Passaic. Please meet at church. Interment to follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton. Visiting will be held Sunday July 10th from 1-6 PM at the Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. Memorial contributions in memory of Joann may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation (www.wish.org), 1347 Perrineville Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ 08831.
Please visit www.bizub.com for driving directions and online condolences.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Record/Herald News on Jul. 9, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Joann Zakrzewski

16 Entries

Lara Saleh

April 20, 2024

Rip

With love and prayers, Radziun family

July 11, 2016

While there is nothing that one can say to ease your pain in this extremely difficult time, please take comfort in knowing that there will come a time when all the loving memories of the time you shared with her, will fill your heart and soul. And that her beautiful spirit will give you strength and love and ultimately begin to heal and bring you inner peace. With our sincerest and deepest condolences to the Zakrzewski family.

Love, Jennifer Pagani & Family

July 10, 2016

Janet, My deepest condolences to you, Brandon, your parents, and siblings on the devastating loss of your sister. I'll never forget all the fun times we had growing up together on L. Place. You are all in my thoughts and prayers xoxo

Schubert family

July 10, 2016

Our deepest condolences to the entire Zakrzewski family. Joann will always be remembered by us, as this happy, loving, always smiling Young Lady; a person with a very big heart. We will always keep her in our hearts. Darius, Vanessa , Julia

Linda Kowalski

July 10, 2016

My deepest condolences to the entire Zakrzewski family. I met Joann her first day as a long term sub at school 16. She brought her warmth, tenderness to all. She always had a smile. As the nurse at the school Joann and I worked closely and she was always wanting the best for her children. It is hard to imagine her not here with us but I have to believe God had a more important need for her.

Cezary Haracewiat with family

July 10, 2016

Our condolences to whole family .

Mary Bergmann

July 10, 2016

I wish I could find the words to adequately express the sadness in my heart. I don't want this to be true. I want to go back to school in September and have Joann walk into my classroom & ask me "a quick question ". After giving her an answer, I would usually end our conversation with something that would always make Joann elicit her adorable giggle. I will forever miss that. Joann was a gentle, warm, caring, kind and selfless person who had a perpetual smile on her face. It was a true honor to have known her and to have worked with her. I have been teaching Pre-K in School 16 for many years. Our program has more than benefited from all that Joann had to offer...it will never be the same without her. To Joann's family, please know you are in my prayers & have my deepest sympathy. Joann was a beautiful soul who left an imprint on my heart that will never go away. May God bless you always.

Toni Jacobus

July 10, 2016

Please accept my sincerest condolences on the loss of such a wonderful daughter, sister, friend, and colleague. I had the privilege of working with Joann at School #16. She was my substitute when I was out of work for a few weeks. She did an excellent job for me in my classroom and I knew that she would make an outstanding teacher. That September she had her own classroom. Joann was thoughtful, kind and caring. She always had a smile on her face as she walked through the halls of our school. She stayed clear of all the drama that comes with having an almost all female staff. Her professionalism was exemplary. We often had discussions about our families, as her two brothers went to school with two of my sons (School 2 and Rutgers). I know she was very proud of her family. Recently, in June, I had the opportunity, just the two of us, to go shopping together. I shall treasure our last conversation. The sudden death of someone so young makes one realize how precious life is and how we should make the most of every minute here on earth. I trust in the Lord that she was needed for something far more important than being here on Earth. May Joann rest in peace and may God bless her family and friends during this most difficult time.

Angie Maisonet

July 9, 2016

I'm in total shock. Ms Joann was my sons teacher for 2 years. She helped him so much. She loved him and he loved her. He will never forget her. I can't believe she was taken from us so soon. May she rest in peace.

Carrie

July 9, 2016

I'm so sorry to hear about Joann, such a great soul. She had a heart of gold kind and caring. She was an angel on this earth and now she is an angel in heaven. I will miss her sweet genuine and down to earth self. My sincerest condolences to her family and friends. This world lost another pure soul an angel that heaven gained. Xoxo

Kathy Lancaster

July 9, 2016

I knew very quickly that Joann was special when she came to fill in for a few months for a preschool teacher who had surgery at School 16. As the speech - language therapist for that class, with my therapy room inside the larger classroom, Joann and I exchanged ideas, materials, concerns, techniques, and lots of laughs. I made sure our supervisors knew that she was a wonderful teacher, and Joann was given her own preschool classroom the following September. These students were more severely delayed with cognitive and physical disabilities. It was a challenging year, but Joann found her way and grew to love that population. Last September, Joanns class was moved back to the classroom where she began and we were roommates again. It was often a competition to see who could beat who in the morning (neither of us were early birds) but Joann often arrived just before me with soaking wet hair pulled back in a bun. Not fair, I would tell her as my hair required a bit more fussing in the morning. She would laugh and claim that she liked the cool feeling from her wet hair. Speaking of cool Joann kept her air conditioning on most of the year because she was always hot from the demands of being a preschool teacher. I would often shiver just walking through her classroom! "Ms. Joann" was born to be a teacher but that doesnt mean she didnt work very hard at her profession. She sought out and implemented ideas from therapists, behaviorists, other teachers, and of course, Pinterest. She worked diligently to potty train her children and was successful with most of them. The progress her students made was remarkable, especially considering the severity of their delays. The parents of Joanns students absolutely loved her. For most, it was their first experience sending their disabled child to school and it was such a relief to them to know that their child was being cared for by such a calm, loving and talented teacher. I keep quote on my file cabinet that says, You can be right or you can be kind. Joann embodied that sentiment as she was one of the kindest people I have ever known. I hope her untimely passing will remind all of us to be kinder, to refrain from the constant complaining that seems to have become the norm, and to view the world and each other in a positive way. Its going to be difficult to go back to that classroom in September without Ms. Joann. I will miss her terribly but I know she will be watching over her family, friends, and former students. Rest easy, Joann. You are loved.

Kasia i Roman Haszczak

July 9, 2016

Wyrazy glebokiego wspolczucia i slowa otuchy dla calej Rodziny Zakrzewskich. Sercem i modlitwa jestesmy z wami.

Maria Wor and son Matthew J Wor

July 9, 2016

Our most deepest sympathies and condolences to the entire family of Ms Joann Zakrzewski.... She was and truly is an "Angel from God " as well as a very loving selfless caring and giving person ... She went above and beyond for everyone she met that came into her life especially her special needs/disabled students... She was my son Matthew's first teacher and I'm forever so grateful to her because she made him who he is today as he has come a long way because of her ... She was an extraordinarily gifted woman and had a heart of gold ... There is a huge hole in our lives now that she is gone that NO ONE can ever fill ... She will NEVER EVER be forgotten and will forever always be in our hearts and prayers every day ... "We miss you Ms Joann and you are terribly missed and loved by myself and my son Matthew ... May you find comfort and peace with God ... We love you very much and miss you terribly! ??????

Jason Havrilla

July 9, 2016

Zakrzewski family...please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. I know it's been many years and I didn't know Joann very well, but I can honestly say that I remember her as a sweet person who went out of her way for her family and others. I cannot possibly imagine the pain you are all goin through, but know that God is with you. May he comfort you all during this hard time.

Susan Loeb

July 9, 2016

Our deepest sympathy to the Zakzrewski family. Ms. Joann as we knew her was a truly gifted teacher with a caring and calm demeanor. Our daughter was her student for the past 2 1/2 years and we will always remember her as a blessing. She taught and cared for Lindsay during a crucial time in her life. We will remember her always. Thinking of your family with sympathy and love.

Emilia Zakrzewska

July 9, 2016

Brakuje mi slow aby wyrazic swoj smutek i zal... wyrazy glebokiego wspolczucia i slowa otuchy dla calej Rodziny. "Odeszlas cicho, bez slow pozegnania. Tak jakbys nie chciala, swym odejsciem smucic... tak jakbys wierzyla w godzine rozstania, ze masz niebawem z dobra wiescia wrocic" ks. J. Twardowski

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