Joan "Joanie-dahling" Cutler

The one-and-only Joan (Rudich) Cutler, of East Windsor, NJ passed away on November 2, 2025 at the age of 90. She was born on May 13, 1935 to the late Helen (Rosen) Rudich and John Rudich.

Growing up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the feisty, red-headed "Joanie-dahling" resided with her mother, uncle, grandparents, and beloved dog, Lucky. Their home had a clothesline out back and a revolving door of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors.

Joan had a zest for life, playing jacks and stoopball on the stoop and competing in stickball in the street. She frequented the cinema, hung out at Coney Island, and snuck into Broadway shows. She played volleyball and basketball. She was a cheerleader. She refused to play the piano. On Sundays she strolled through Central Park Zoo and listened to music with her father. Summers were spent at the family-owned Camp Kingston in Ulster County, NY, where she developed a deep, lifelong appreciation for the role of summer camp in a child's life.

After graduating with a teaching degree from Brooklyn College in 1957, this independent young woman struck out on her own, moving into her dream Manhattan apartment at a time when the idea of a young woman living on her own "simply wasn't done, dear."

Joan commuted to work in Brooklyn, where she helped the teachers' union get their start. She was a beloved teacher at schools both public and private, but felt she had the most profound impact at the schools in less affluent communities. Joan possessed the unique ability to see the good in every child, and to help them see it, too.

In 1966, while in Fire Island with friends, Joan met Barry Cutler. She and Barry married on June 11, 1967 with her PS 193 class of thirty 6th graders in attendance. The young couple honeymooned in Bermuda before moving to Brighton Beach, NY, where they rode bicycles on the boardwalk and became parents upon the arrival of their daughter, Lizabeth.

Joan put her teaching career on hold, and in 1970 the young Cutler family relocated to East Windsor, NJ, welcoming daughters Caroline and Melanie in due course.

Joan was a giving, kind, fun, joyful, imaginative mother with a playful sense of humor. She was her daughters' biggest champion, present for every milestone, either hosting or attending every event. She led the neighborhood children in craft projects, baking and storytime. She brought her girls to musicals at Princeton McCarter Theater and on Broadway. She advocated for and oversaw their education - academically, culturally, and "New York-ly." She saw to it that they received bat mitzvahs and college educations. She introduced them to all things food-related, namely, Chinese food. And she blessed them with the one thing she herself had always longed for: siblings.

Joan flourished when she was part of an interconnected community. She was a founding member of Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction and an enthusiastic, creative, active contributor wherever she went. This was true at Melvin H. Kreps School, Hickory Corner library, and later at the East Windsor Township Senior Center.

Joan was the quintessential hostess, endlessly collecting and trying out new recipes. Her beautifully adorned Thanksgiving tables were legendary. With a dear friend, she channeled her gift for entertaining and decorating into a party-planning business, Mixed Bag/Sweet Surprises. She became a certified balloonist, painted faces, sold at craft fairs and outdoor markets, and merrily delivered gift baskets in full costume.

Years later, Joan returned to teaching elementary schoolers in Trenton, NJ, where she quickly became "That Teacher" who let her students chew gum during tests and voluntarily curated books for the school library. Although she wasn't interested in accolades, she received them in spades, being named Teacher of the Year multiple times and winning a national contest connected to "Dr. Seuss's Read Across America" program.

Above all, Joan nurtured hundreds of children over the years, eventually (and especially) including her 4 lucky grandchildren. There are no words to express her utter and complete adoration for Nora, Chase, Spencer and Abby. They were hugged, rocked, read to, jump-roped with, listened to, and loved unconditionally. She knew their favorite things and fostered each of their unique qualities. She showed up for them, established special traditions, and supported all of their endeavors. She was delighted by their very existence and truly lit up in their presence.

The dogs and grand-dogs in her life received their full due of loving pats and stolen moments with vanilla ice cream: Lucky, Shotsie, Jake, Sam, Winnie, Brewster, Lincoln, Lacey, Phoebe, Opal, and Mitzie.

Up until the end, if there was fun to be had, Joan was right in the thick of it, gleefully greeting trick-or-treaters 2 days before her passing. She basked in life's splendor, from crisp fall leaves and rolling ocean waves to bustling city streets or crowded shopping malls.

Joan is beyond cherished and will live on forever in her husband of 58 years Barry; children Lizabeth Cutler, Caroline Behrend, and Melanie Cutler; sons-in-law Jeff Eder and Andy Behrend; grandsons Chase and Spencer Behrend; granddaughters Nora and Abby Eder; her cousins, co-workers, and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, 11/10 at 2:00 pm at Congregation Beth Chaim (329 Village Road East, Princeton Jct, NJ 08550). There will be a shiva that evening from 5-8 pm (7 pm minyan service) at the home of Joan and Barry Cutler (7 Stanford Court, East Windsor, NJ 08520).

Anyone wishing to celebrate Joan with a contribution is respectfully requested to

contact Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the East Windsor Township Senior Center, the Hickory Corner Library in East Windsor, NJ or their own local library, and the Congregation Beth Chaim Senior Rabbi's Discretionary Fund to support Beth Chaim's Library. See links below.