Joan Griffith Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

LOCATION

Willingboro, New Jersey

Managing a Dual Role
Joan D. Griffith had two identities. As an office manager at Fiduciary Trust, she was known as Joan. But with her family and friends in Willingboro, N.J. -- where her pasta improvisations attracted a fan club -- she went by her middle name, Donna. Her husband, Peter, is not positive why, but he has a theory: "She was Joan on the job, I guess, because it sounded more official."

She was the mother of their 16-year-old daughter and a mother to his 24-year-old daughter, raising both girls as her own. "That we were madly in love for 20 years is a tribute to her," he said.

Her weekly routine rarely varied: Saturdays she went to the library and loaded up her book bag with romance novels to read, two per day, on her 90-minute commute to and from work. Reading was one escape from the stresses of Wall Street. She also had a rule that the home front was to be computer-free. They met in 1980 at Merrill Lynch, married in 1981, and moved out of Brooklyn in 1992 so that their children could experience an environment dominated by cornfields rather than concrete.

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I read about Joan Donna Griffith's story by her daughter Paula last fall. What happened to her was very tragic. 9/11 was one of the worst attacks to happen on American soil. In the midst of the darkness, it's good to know that Paula and her younger sister are keeping their mother's memory alive. I hope Joan's family is doing okay these days. I send my condolences to her family and friends. May she RIP.

Jessica Smith

September 13, 2025 | Baltimore, MD | Acquaintance

September 11, 2015

Very cool lady, missed by all who knew her.

Lois Raffel

September 11, 2015 | St Pete Beach, FL

The years have passed but it still feels so recent ,I sometimes find pictures of you during one of our trips we had such a wonderful time you are loved and missed .

September 11, 2015

Donna.

Your absence has left a void that will never be filled.
You will forever be lovingly remembered!

Paulette Grant

September 11, 2015 | Brooklyn, NY

Joan I think of you today as Sept 11th 2015 draw closer god bless.....

Ann Walsh

September 04, 2015 | Mineola, NY

To the Griffith family,
Joan was my boss for 6 months prior to 9/11. I was a young recent college graduate who started at Fiduciary Trust in Jan 2000 I met Joan in March 2001 when the department I was working with merged with the security master division. Joan was a woman who really worked up the corporate ladder and rose to a high level management position. I only knew Joan for a short time but the department was experiencing several changes and she really listened to my ideas and...

Ann Walsh

February 03, 2008 | Mineola, NY

Happy Birthday!!!

Doug Abraham

December 19, 2007 | Livonia, MI

As I stitched your name on the memorial that I am doing for all of the victims, I prayed for you and your family. Please know that your death was not in vain. We will always remember. God Bless.

Kristine

November 02, 2006 | Tecumseh, MI

Joan D. Griffith

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