Joan Bollerman Cunningham

Joan Bollerman Cunningham passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Joanvwas born on November 19.1935 and grew up in Maywood, New Jersey. She lived in Pequannock, New Jersey for the past 62 years.

Joan is predeceased by her husband, Frank Bollerman, who died in 2002. She married Frank in 1957, and loved him very much. Joan is survived by her children Michelle (nee Bollerman) Phelan and her husband Steven Tillona, Steven Bollerman and his wife Karen, Sharon (nee

Bollerman) Abrams, and Michael Bollerman and his wife Suzanne. Joan was predeceased by a brother Charlie, and is survived by her sister, Josephine (nee Monaco) Brickner and her husband, Hank, and her brother, Charlie Monaco and his wife, Sharon. She is also survived by

her grandchildren, Jake, Kerry, Nicole, TJ, Brian, Josh, Alex, and Isabella, 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her God children, David Monaco, Patrice (nee Brickner) Mendes, MaryJo (nee Foschini) LoPresti and MaryBeth Scarrone were all very special to her.

Joan married Bill Cunningham in 2009, and shared several years with him and his family until Bill died in 2016. In marriage, she became part of Bill's family for a period of time that remained special to her. She really enjoyed the Memorial Day parades and the family parties. Her niece, Kathy Mechan Harley was especially dear to her-visiting, sharing great Hackensack pastries, and bringing that "Bollerman" common sense to the visits they shared. Ray Kloss was her handyman who went above and beyond in overseeing her general welfare and helping maintain her home.

Joan was a lifelong learner, and what she learned, she loved to apply. Joan's foray into education began at Fordham University, where she was a proud alumnus (1957). Joan had two Masters Degrees from William Paterson University in Special Education, and a Nursing Degree.

Joan had a knack for seeing talent and promise in a child faced with learning challenges. A talented Learning Disabilities Teacher's Consultant and tutor, she creatively deployed different approaches to learning and to understanding concepts in reading and math which helped

children jump hurdles in their elementary school years. She worked in Passaic County as a member of a Child Study team, in Lincoln Park with behaviorally challenged children, and taught at St. Mary's in Pompton Lakes.

As if Special Education wasn't enough, Joan subsequently pursued a degree in Nursing! She put her education to work at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Totowa for 25+ years, and also served as a school nurse at St. Anthony's in Butler.

Joan was an active parishioner of Holy Spirit R.C. Church in Pequannock. She had been active in the Rosary Altar Society, serving as President for a term. She was very involved in different Church ministries over the years, having participated in teams that cleaned the church, helped local flood victims, furnished and clothed refugees from Vietnam, and sponsored Birthright activities.

The family wishes to thank the Pequannock Police Department for their patience and professionalism, neighbors who exercised compassion, and the care givers at CareOne in Wayne. Special thanks are extended to the Ascend Hospice team who took such good care of her for the past nine months. She especially enjoyed and appreciated Yoel who nursed her body and soul and Jhonn who tended to her physical needs.

A Mass celebrating Joan's life will be held at Holy Spirit Church, Pequannock, NJ on 11 AM Friday, March 27, 2026. A Christian Burial will follow at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Totowa, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holy Spirit Church, Pequannock, NJ, or to Catholic Charities.