Obituary of Joan M Cunningham

Joan M. Cunningham, 86, of Whiting, NJ (born Joan Mary Fischer, January 10,1930) passed away peacefully on March 24,2016 at AristaCare at Manchester, where she had been residing for the last year and a half while battling complications of Atherosclerotic Disease and Diabetes. Joan was the first born, along with identical twin sister Jean, of the seven children born to Robert C. Fischer and Mary G. Fischer. Joan lived most of her life in Essex County, NJ, first in Nutley, and then in Bloomfield. Despite recent illnesses, Joan remained strong and interested in life to the end. She made friends with staff and everyone knew and loved her. She was both feisty and sweet. She retained her sense of humor and found the current presidential campaign a fun, lively topic to discuss and debate. As Joan would tell anyone, all she ever wanted to do was have her kids. She devoted her long life to her children, Kevin, Mary, Kate, and Maureen (Reenie). Despite the hardships of raising four children, she still managed to work full time at Westinghouse and then North American Philips, moving up from the factory to an office position in accounting. Joan is pre deceased by Reenie,age 59, first husband and father of her children, Thomas R. (Dick) Fitzgerald, Jim Cunningham, husband of twenty years, and John Wagg, her husband of ten years. Jean passed away at age 81. Joan's artistic abilities were reflected throughout her life in her hobbies of sewing and quilting. Joan is survived by her two brothers, Bobby and Carl and her sisters Lucy (Lucille), Tippie (MaryAnn), and Lorry (Lorraine). She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their children and great grandchildren, many of whom have Joan's beautiful quilts to remember her by. Her grandson Edwin (Tiger) and granddaughter Cristina (Tina) will miss their "Nana" for the rest of their lives. Luckily, they, like her entire extended family, will be sustained by many wonderful memories. Joan's life will be celebrated this summer on LBI with a party she would love.