Joyce A. Hatala

1930 - 2025

Joyce A. Hatala, 94, of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025 with her family by her side. Born in Trenton, she attended Trenton State College and was a long-time member of St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton. She worked for many years at a variety of porcelain companies in Trenton and retired from Edward Marshall Boehms.  She was an aide on the local school buses helping students with disabilities. She married her husband, Michael Hatala, III and moved to Cream Ridge, a home she loved and where they raised their family.

She was an overly generous, wickedly funny, unconditionally loving woman.  She was an avid downhill skier, swimmer, Phillies fan and reader, she loved traveling and watching movies. Joyce loved to cook, and Mike loved to grow vegetables, a match made in heaven.  It was said that she had a little food with her garlic.  Christmas dinner was the highlight of the family gatherings. She loved entertaining so much that she had two dinners, one for family then one for dear friends.

Daughter of the late Dorothy May and Fredrick W. Ristow, she was predeceased by her loving husband of 46 years, Michael Hatala, III, her beloved sons, Jamie, Jon, and Jody Gleason and by her sister, Shirlee Shaudys. Joyce is survived by her sister, Dee Srahola and nieces, Michelle Post, Pamela Shaudys, Paige Morales, Deanna Woods, Tara Eubanks and nephews Hank Shaudys and Billy Eubanks.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 2-4 pm with a funeral service to begin at 4pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main Street, Allentown, NJ.  A buffet dinner will follow at Villa Maria, 3800 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, NJ.  There will be no graveside service.