Joan M. Guarino

Joan M. Guarino (née Tofel), 88, of Pine Brook, NJ, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025.
Born in Newark on August 23, 1937, Joan was the daughter of Walter John Tofel and Mary Agnes Poturaj Tofel. She grew up in a close-knit household rooted in tradition, creativity, and perseverance-qualities that guided her throughout her life.
A gifted artist from a young age, Joan attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, where she refined her natural talent and deepened her passion for interior design. After graduation, she worked in her field for many years, lending her creativity and expertise to Hahne & Company Department Store and later Martin Interiors. In 1979, with a combination of vision and determination, she opened her own business, Carjo Designs in Livingston, which she successfully operated for two decades.
Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband, Gennaro Guarino Jr., with whom she shared a devoted and enduring partnership. She supported her husband faithfully, standing side-by-side with him and even in his hardware store businesses for many years.
A woman of deep Catholic faith, Joan remained an active member of every parish she attended. In her early years, she was a member of St. Casimir in Newark, where she attended school. Later, she was a parishioner of St. Francis Church in Newark, later becoming a dedicated member of St. Raphael's Church in Livingston. She proudly participated in numerous parish clubs and volunteered generously, giving her time, talent, and leadership whenever needed.
Joan loved to travel and embraced life with a strong, outgoing, independent spirit. She was artistic, intelligent, and vibrant, with a remarkable ability to help others. Whether offering guidance, lending her skills to a friend's project, or simply being a steady source of support, she was always ready to give of herself.
She was the beloved mother of Gennaro M. Guarino III and his wife Denise; the late Gregory Guarino and his surviving partner Liz Triano; and Carmene Guarino-Garrison and her husband Walter J. Garrison.
She was the cherished grandmother of Jeanette Leonard and her husband Stephen; Karen Cosic and her husband Peter; Jacqueline Ward and her husband Tom; Maria Guarino; Michelle Guarino-Lauer and her husband William; Gennaro Guarino II; the late Gregory Guarino Jr.; and Richard Bolen Jr. and his wife Lena.
She was the great-grandmother of Colleen Leonard; Matthew Leonard; Antonio Loffredo and his wife Taylor; Isabella Cosic; Luca Cosic; TJ Ward; Orlando Guarino Reyes; Ariana Rosado; Olivia Rosado; David Jeanniton; Angel Reyes; Cheyenne Reyes; Ava Lauer; Jada Lauer; Abbigail Rae Guarino; Gennaro Hazelman; and Xavier Hazelman, and the great-great-grandmother of Colton and Lainey Loffredo.
She was also the loving sister of Thomas Tofel and Mary Edwards and her husband Peter, and was predeceased by her brother Walter Tofel and his wife Carmella Tofel.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 4 PM to 8 PM at Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Avenue, Roseland, NJ.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, November 21, at 12 PM at St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church, 346 E Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, NJ. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan, please visit our floral store.