Joan T. Day

Joan T. Day (née Vincelli) of West Long Branch, 91, died Thursday, March 26. Joan had taken ill Thursday morning and passed away shortly after arriving at Monmouth Medical Center.

Her husband of 68 years, Robert (Bob), died in 2022. At the time of her passing she was living in the home she and Bob bought in 1962.

Joan was born in Philadelphia to James and Mary (née Dalton) Vincelli. She was the youngest of three and was predeceased by her parents and sisters Rose Grandinetti and Dorothy Goettel.

Her childhood was spent on Fourth Avenue in Long Branch, in a neighborhood surrounded by cousins. She was a standout scholar and athlete at Long Branch High School. Her academic achievements included membership in the National Honor Society and Student Council. She earned four letters her senior year for basketball, tennis, softball and cheerleading.

Toward the end of her senior year, Bob, who graduated a year earlier and was serving in the U.S. Navy, proposed to her. She accepted and they married in 1954 at Star of the Sea Church in Long Branch.

Joan worked for several years at Fort Monmouth as part of a typing pool.

After leaving work, she devoted herself to her husband, children, and community. She was a gifted seamstress who delighted in making clothes for her girls, including their First Holy Communion gloves and dresses; raising vegetables in the garden; serving as Troop Leader for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; and visiting teachers and principals at Frank Antonides and Shore Regional when the need arose.

Joan and Bob had 5 children: Donna Rose (Jack Rose), Diane Day, Bob Day (Toby Day), Ron Day (Pam Day), and Donny Day.

They had 9 grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Donna's daughter Erin Hardy (son Easton); Diane's daughter Christine Van Winkle (daughter Gyanna) and son Eric Urban (daughter Olivia); Bob's sons Dylan, Spencer and Gabriel; Ron's son Marcus; Donny's son Bobby Morgan and daughter Maddie (daughter Koralee). For the past seven years she, and Bob when he was still alive, were lovingly cared for in their home by Eric and Brittany Workman.

Joan was active in civic and school groups for decades, from Girl Scouts Troop Leader to Cub Scouts Den Mother. She was West Long Branch's Welfare Director for several years, a former leader of Monmouth County Association of Retarded Children, and served on Pop Warner and Little League committees.

She was a longtime communicant of St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church in West Long Branch, St. Michael's, Holy Trinity Church and Star of the Sea Church, all in Long Branch.

She adored (and was adored by) her family and was loved by her friends and neighbors. She was proud of her Italian-Irish heritage and her Vincelli and Mistretta cousins (she counted Cittadino's and Giglio's among others to whom she was related). She was thrilled to earn her A.A. degree from Brookdale Community College.

She generously gave her time to people in need of a helping hand, and was happiest when she saw that generosity reflected in the behavior of her children and grandchildren. While her departure leaves us brokenhearted, her memory will be a blessing to all who knew and loved her-for generations to come. Her wisdom, generosity of spirit, loving heart and devotion to God, her family and her community serves as a shining example of all that is good.

Visiting will be from 2-5 pm Sunday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway in West Long Branch. Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 am Monday at St. Michael's Church in West End, Long Branch. Burial will follow at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.