Joan Williams, 87, Remembered For Joy, Kindness And Laughter
JoanP.Williams,87,ofStuart,Florida, and Westfield, New Jersey, passed away on March 21, 2026, at her home in Stuart, after a private battle with cancer.
Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1938, Joan grew up in Clark and graduated from Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield. She later worked in the school office until she met the love of her life, Ed Williams, at Culvermere in Branchville, New Jersey.
Joan and Ed shared a 51-year marriage built on family, hard work, and love. For much of her life, Joan lived at Williams Nursery in Westfield, where she kept the books, managed accounts, designed wreaths, helped customers, and filled in wherever needed, all while raising a family.
Joan was loving, kind, and full of life. She had a joyful laugh, a welcoming spirit, and a way of making people feel at ease. She was also a talented watercolor painter who loved to sing, enjoyed golf, tennis, and fishing, supported the arts, and was an avid reader.
Her most cherished role was being Mom. She poured her love and generosity into her children and later became a devoted “Nanny” to her grandchildren. She was deeply involved in her children’s lives, serving as PTO president, a Brownie leader, and a den mother. Family memories meant everything to Joan, whether through camping trips, time at the Jersey shore, or weekends at the lake house. Several years after Ed’s passing, Joan was blessed to find companionship again with her beloved partner, Harvey Wilson, who brought her comfort and support in her later years and lovingly cared for her when she became ill.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Edward Williams; her daughter, Dawn; her parents, Kenneth and Freda Meyer; her stepfather, Arthur Bullivant; and her brother, Kenny Meyer. She is survived by her beloved partner, Harvey Wilson; her sister, Debra LaGola; her son, David Williams and his partner, Kathy; her daughter, Denise Jackson and her husband, Greg Jackson; her grandchildren, Dakota Williams, Taylor and her husband, Joey Machesko, and Melanie and her husband, Adam Osborn; and her great-grandchildren, Van and an anticipated great-granddaughter.
Joan loved flowers. In her memory, friends may send flowers or, if they prefer, make a donation to the American Cancer Society.
A memorial gathering will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, from 10 a.m.to noon at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home.
