Joanne Nycz

Joanne "Joannie" Marie Nycz passed away peacefully at home Nov. 8, 2025. She was 71 years old.
Joannie was born Aug. 14, 1954, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was the daughter of the late Thomas A. and Genevieve (Szypula) Nycz, of whom she always spoke lovingly of their guidance and generosity. She attended Linden High School, followed by continuing education classes in business and management. From there, she began a career with the Exxon Bayway Refinery in Linden, where she rose to the level of project manager, fearlessly managing teams of employees and contractors through many challenging situations. Her career there spanned 40 years, culminating in her retirement in 2014.
Joannie was known for her generous spirit, quick wit, intelligence, passion for reading, and especially for her love of spoiling her many beloved nieces, nephews, and later, their children as well. For the kids, Christmas was a two-part event with Joannie – first, Santa arrived, and then Joannie followed and did her best not to show him up.
Joannie also served as the host of epic family meals, particularly on New Year's Day, where the sheer volume of the ham dinner couldn't fit onto one table. It's also where family fights were known to break out over who would triumphantly claim the leftovers of her legendary potato salad recipe.
A resident of Toms River for more than three decades, Joannie had a lifetime love of the Jersey Shore. That love began in the 1970s, when she and her friends would visit seaside bars, including the Stone Pony, where she became an early fan of this guy named Bruce who had just started playing there.
Over the years, she spent many weeks on Long Beach Island throughout her life, a passion for which she has inspired for so many others in her family. She also enjoyed a good trip to Atlantic City for both concerts and games, where the Borgata's slot machines knew they didn't stand a chance when they saw her coming.
Joannie was pre-deceased by her parents, Thomas and Genevieve Nycz, and her beloved sister, Dolores "Dee" (Nycz) Clemente. She is survived by her brothers Thomas J. Nycz (Ann) of Eatontown, Robert Nycz (Helen) of Cumming, Georgia, and brother-in-law, Jonathan Clemente of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, as well as 11 nieces and nephews, their spouses and 15 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will take place at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Road in Toms River on Sunday, Nov. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Nov. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church, located at 1674 Old Freehold Road in Toms River.
Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, 62 Cedar Grove Road in Toms River.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Joannie's lifelong love of cats, the family requests donations be made to Forgotten Cats Inc., which works to reduce the homeless cat population.
Joannie will always be remembered for her love, her sense of humor and her dedication to her family, and will be dearly missed.