Joan Kuser

Joan (Portacolone) Kuser, was born in Paterson, NJ on November 24, 1934, she was raised and lived her life in Wayne, NJ. She passed away peacefully after a long life and short bout with cancer on August 3, 2024.
Joan was the daughter of Angela (Gandini) Portacolone, a first generation Italian, and Joseph Portacolone, an immigrant who, traveled to the United States on a cargo ship and made his way to NYC to start a life in the United States. Her mother, father, and mother-in-law worked together at the Mack Molding Company and conspired to have their children marry. This was aided by her brother Arthur Porta, who was in the Navy with her beloved future husband Richard Alan Kuser. They married in 1955 and had a long and loving marriage until his passing in 2017. Joan and Alan had three daughters and were devoted to their family.
Joan graduated from Pompton Lakes High School and earned a legal secretary diploma from the Katherine Gibbs school. She was smart, creative and loving. She was a talented seamstress among her many other skills, making her children and grandchildren beautiful clothing and costumes in her spare time, of which she had little. She worked for many years as a legal secretary, followed by a long career with the American Cyanamid company where she achieved professional success.
She leaves behind her loving family of daughter Debra Pecchioni and husband Raymond, her daughter Janet Komarnicki, and husband George, and her daughter Karen Kuser, along with grandchildren Raymond Pecchioni and wife Jessica, Casey Komarnicki and Ana Kuser. Joan was dearly loved by her many nieces and nephews and will be missed by all. Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband Alan, her wonderful brother Art and her cherished grandson Kyle.
Her dedication to her family and her many accomplishments made her a wonderful inspiration and role model for her daughters. And in the words of her youngest grandchild, "grandma was a fun person."
The family will be holding a small private burial per her wishes.