Joan M MacMullan

Joan MacMullen died peacefully on January 6th at the age of 94. Joan was born in NYC, the oldest of three children to Peter and Susan Smeriglio. Joan grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Walton high school where she was known as the "song bird" for her beautiful soprano voice. Her talent was discovered at an early age and by the time she was 16 she was singing solo at Sunday Mass as well as weddings, funerals, communion breakfasts and many high school functions. After graduation Joan went to work as a research secretary at Memorial hospital in NYC.Joan met her loving husband of 38 years in church when she was 16. Every Sunday she would sing at Mass and he would volunteer as a altar boy. They married at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in the Bronx and moved to New Jersey. Joan worked at Merck and Co. as a secretary until she had her first child. She went on to raise five children in Meturchen and Edison, N.J. where she was an active member of the St. Francis parish. She sang every Sunday at mass, participated in the PTA, and helped with the children's choir. She also worked part time at Muhlenberg hospital as a secretary in the admitting department.
In 1976, Joan moved to Puerto Rico for her husband's work and continued her singing at the local Catholic Church. They both enjoyed the beautiful sunshine of Puerto Rico for 17 years. They played golf, swam, went snorkeling and enjoyed the local theatre. Following the death of her husband, Joan returned to Bay Head New Jersey and continued her singing and volunteering in the alter rosary society at Church of the Sacred Heart. Joan was a devoted mother and grandmother and loved spending time with all her family at the shore. She enjoyed sitting on the beach, watching her Grandchildren swim in her pool and walking the boardwalk.
Joan had a strong passion for music and she loved to sing. She enjoyed attending the Metropolitan opera, where she was able to see Pavorotti perform several times, symphony performances, Broadway musicals and various other concerts. She especially loved attending her children and grandchildren's musical performances. Joan also loved to travel and was fortunate to travel with her husband to Europe several times as well as many visits to several Caribbean islands. After her husband's death Joan took several solo trips with religious groups to Europe, Israel and Jordan. In 2002, Joan moved to Columbus NJ and continued to be an active volunteer at St. Mary's parish in Bordentown NJ.
Joan was pre deceased by her parents Peter and Susan Smeriglio, brother and sister in law James and Pat Smeriglio. She is survived by her five Children, Ed MacMullan (Angie), Elizabeth Altiero (Gary), Peter MacMullan, Susan Lapolla (Michael), Terrance MacMullan (Rebecca), eight grandchildren, Jonathan, Emma, Allison, Michael, Maggie, Sylvia, Liam and Winnie. Her sister Stephanie Bruno (Angelo) and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Joan's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.