Obituary of Joan T. McCreesh
Joan McCreesh (nee Truempy), a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend entered into Heaven on January 23, 2024, at the age of 82. Born and raised in Plainfield, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas McCreesh, in 1962. After a brief time in Point Pleasant, they devoted 45 years to raising their family on South Plainfield Avenue in South Plainfield, NJ before her recent move to Ocean, NJ.
Joan, affectionately known as Grammy and Gigi, was a fierce advocate and a devoted fan of her family. She adored her children Tom (Laura), Glenn (Gail), Pam (Reg), and Jeff (Loren). She was a loving grandmother to Danny, Alyssa, Maggie, Ellie, Jake, and Hannah. Her legacy continues with great-grandchildren Paityn, Jaxyn, Brooklyn, and TJ.
Joan's life was marked by her dedication to caring for others. She treasured her family, her work with the special education program at Kennedy Elementary School in South Plainfield, and her time working at Dunphey Smith, with her son Tom, the same company her husband worked for thirty years. She retired in 2021 and moved to Ocean, NJ to be closer to her children.
Joan found joy in trips to Wildwood Crest, visits to Atlantic City, annual cruises and cherished shopping trips with her daughter, daughter-in-laws, and granddaughters. She could always find time to sit on the boardwalk and watch the boats go by with a cherry vanilla cone from Day’s Ice Cream Shop in hand. When not at her “happy place” in Ocean Grove, she could be found cheering on her favorite football teams (NY Giants or Kansas City Chiefs, depending on the game) or tuning into a round of golf.
With her quick wit and cheeky sense of humor, Joan’s family has an endless trove of stories, jokes, and “Gram-isms” to retell. Her spirit lives on in her catchphrases like "you know what to do," "be good," “wear your seatbelt” and "love you more." You could never leave her presence without Joan lovingly reminding you to text her when you got home.
Joan is survived by her children, grandchildren, brother Clifford (Vesta), brothers-in-law Brian (Carolyn) and Terry (Dottie), sisters-in-law Gail, Karen (George), and Sandi along with her many nieces and nephews. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford (Buzzy) and Grace (Mimi) Truempy, as well as her husband Tom, and grandson Jake.
Joan’s wisdom and capacity for love left an indelible mark on those around her. She was a kind and gracious friend to so many and she will be dearly missed. Joan’s spirit lives on through the memories she created and the love she shared with her family. May she rest in peace.
A Memorial Service for Joan will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Embury Avenue in Ocean Grove. The family will begin receiving visitors at the church at 10:30AM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Coaches Care in Joan’s memory (www.coaches-care.com). Check donations can be sent to 1011 Berkeley Avenue, Ocean, NJ 07712.