Joan Kosarek

Joan Kosarek of Wayne NJ, passed away on March 10, 2026. She was 94 years old.

Joan was born into dire poverty, brought on by The Great Depression, being raised in a two-bedroom home along with her mother, father, and three younger sisters. They were often so short on food that they would live on berries picked in the nearby forest.

In that home, Joan blossomed into an absolutely beautiful young woman, being crowned Miss Television of the Week, and Princess of Seton Hall two years in a row. She was later offered a contract with the Powers Modeling Agency, but turned it down to attend Montclair State Teachers College.

Joan was not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well. Soon after she married Chester Kosarek, he contracted tuberculosis, and she never left his side, doing everything in her power to help him recover and finish his medical school studies to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Joan and Chester's 62-year marriage was truly an exemplary one. They were inseparable and best friends. Both battled cancer earlier in their lives, and each was completely devoted to nursing the other back to health. They set a wonderful example of what true love and marriage should be.
Throughout her marriage, both Joan and her husband volunteered their time at a crippled children's clinic in Sussex, NJ. In their day, everyone in town knew them and had great reverence for them.

Joan was extremely loving and family-oriented; she was the true matriarch of the Kosarek clan, always helping out and giving advice to relatives. She loved us all fiercely, and was the foundation and rock of the entire extended family. She will be so very, very sorely missed.

Joan is survived by her three children, Chester Kosarek Jr (Mary), Dr. Catherine Schlafly (Andy), Dr. Frank Kosarek (Michelle), eight grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Schlafly, Caroline Schlafly Douglas, Dr. Cassie Kosarek-Liss, Dr. Noelle Kosarek-Paige, Matthew Kosarek, Frank Kosarek Jr., Mia Kosarek, and Alex Kosarek; and two great-grandchildren James Douglas and Thomas Douglas.