Plosia, Joan Walker, born March 14, 1934, peacefully passed away on February 20, 2017—an unusually spring-like day. She was surrounded by her immediate family and slipped away while the morning sun shone through the window of the home she was so proud of.

She was 82. A stylish, seemingly ageless redhead, she appeared a generation younger to 100 guests who attended an 80th birthday party in her honor in 2014. Her daughters’ circle of friends, most of whom had lost their own parents, bonded with her like a second mother.

Born Joan Windeknecht in East Rutherford, she lived there and in Lyndhurst until she met and married Les Plosia in 1955, a year after his return from Army service. Their first marriage of 20 years brought two daughters, Kim and Terri.

In addition to her longstanding leadership of the Lincoln School Mothers’ Club, she served on the East Rutherford Memorial Library Board of Trustees for years. She was a member of the Carlstadt Turnverein and founded the Girls Athletic Program at Faust Middle School in East Rutherford.

She and second husband Vincent Walker moved to Florida in 1985 where she served as a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. Joan also worked with the Pinellas County Board of Elections. The Walkers amicably divorced after Joan returned to East Rutherford where she married Les again, for the second time.

While she leaves behind so many friends of all ages, she is survived by her husband Lester L. Plosia of East Rutherford, daughters Kim Plosia of NYC and Terri Plosia Gaffett of Rhode Island, granddaughter Paige Gaffett of Rhode Island; sister Carol Micci Kosko (Larry) of Livingston and her children Kelly and Craig and Kelly’s daughter, Genevieve Kosko; brother Joseph Micci (Gi) of Palm Coast, Florida and his children Danielle Lorenc and Ryan Micci. She was predeceased by her mother, Thelma Blunt. Her husband Les’ family were all very close as well: Kathryn and Lester Plosia (deceased), James (deceased) and Carolan Plosia and their children Jamie, Jesse, Kevin and Shawn, and Adele and Conrad Foerter (deceased) and their children Dan, Beth, Dave, Tom and Amy.

A band of angels comforted Joan during her two-month hospice at her home. In addition to Valley Hospital’s Roxanne Mercer, we thank for a million kindnesses neighbors Angie DeMarco and Joanne Dezego; the Wallington girls, Rosemary Sandor, Irene Marty, Susan Morales; lifelong dear friends Joan Shaw and Arlene Nafash; Ted Winand and his sister, Susan Mercoun; Valerie Zimmermann; her dear sister Carol and her two children, Kelly and Craig; Dawn McCambridge Cole; dear friend Richard DeLauro; sister-in-law Carolan Plosia and niece Shawn Plosia; her darling granddaughter Paige Gaffett and tireless devoted daughters, Kim Plosia and Terri Gaffett, who put their own lives on the shelf for 17 months to care for their beloved mom.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Kimak Funeral Home, 425 Broad Street, Carlstadt on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM. Interment Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst. Visitation Thursday 3-8 PM.