Joan T. (Miller) Miceli

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Joan (Miller) Miceli. She died at home on Friday, April 11, 2025, surrounded by her husband and daughters. She was born on May 19, 1941, in Brooklyn, NY to the late Mary and Edmund Miller. She moved to Fords in her teenage years and was a graduate of Woodbridge High School. 

Joan lit up any room she entered. She had a kind demeanor, was always well dressed and people were drawn to her. She was well versed in many subjects, past and current events and could always connect and engage in a meaningful conversation. She was always ready to listen, offer advice, or just show up.

Joan began her professional life as a stenographer, a role that would become the foundation for a remarkable and varied career. Early on, she served with distinction at the FBI where her precision and dedication were greatly valued both in the steno pool and in the pistol club which she spoke proudly of.

Through a colleague at the FBI, she met her husband Joseph Miceli, who she was devoted to for over 60 years. Together they built a home and raised two daughters in Piscataway. When her girls were old enough to be in school, she became employed at Piscataway High School where she worked as the secretary for the athletic director.  Here she developed her love for a variety of sports, especially basketball, and created long lasting friendships that withstood the test of time.  In 1986, her career evolved to other secretary roles with various temporary positions. One of these positions resulted in an administrative assistant position at National Starch where she was known for her strong work ethic and collegial spirit. She would eventually retire from this position to spend more time with her young grandchildren.

  Her life was built around her family, their happiness, their struggles, their dreams. Her joy was their joy, her peace was their safety and everything she did was with them in mind. She never ceased to express to her grandchildren how proud she was of them and their accomplishments.  She made it a point to attend as many special events as she could and never held back when speaking about them to her friends.  One of her most recognized talents was crocheting.  She gifted  hundreds of afghans! If you were lucky to have received one, know that she crafted it specifically with you in mind.  Please consider it a hug from Joan when you wrap yourself in that handmade gift. She was also famous for her butter cookies, deviled eggs and raspberry tarts and happily shared her recipes. But no matter who tried to recreate them, they said they never tasted like Joanie's.  These specific items were requested at all family functions.  Lucky enough, her daughters can carry on the tradition.

Joan's pastimes included all sorts of games and puzzles which she loved playing with family, especially her grands. BINGO, Michigan Rummy, word games, board games and jigsaw puzzles just to name a few. She enjoyed watching National Geographic and was in awe of nature, especially elephants. She watched series like The Blacklist, The Sopranos and Yellowstone. Joan was often captured on her grandchildren's phones, mostly the victim of various Snapchat filters. She was a coin collector and found joy when she discovered rare bills. She listened to the likes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and more recently Adam Lambert. But most of all, she loved the beach, Avon-by-the-Sea, where she spent many summers with her daughters and best friend Louise who passed away years ago.

We will carry her with us in the warmth of an afghan, clue of a crossword, piece of a jigsaw puzzle, sand on the beach and most of all, the love she poured into every moment she shared with us.  Our hope is that she has met up with all of her favorite people and pets that have gone before her. We see her driving her black convertible Camaro to a beach, where she is in a black bathing suit, sitting on her animal print towel, hair freshly styled by her best friend, a crossword puzzle in one hand and a chocolate malt in the other. 

A life well lived.

In addition to her husband Joseph, Joan is survived by her 2 daughters; Donna Hess and her husband Duke of Raritan, and Denise Vitelli and her husband Joe of Bridgewater. 4 grandchildren; Eve and Drew Hess, Dominic and Raquel Vitelli. 1 sister; Doris Vagrin and her husband Anton.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her funeral mass on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at St. Frances Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, 208 Bound Brook Avenue, Piscataway at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private.

Her visitation will be held Tuesday evening, April 22, 2025 from 5 - 7 PM at the Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan's memory may be made to the Padre Pio Foundation of America.

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