Joan Mary Shurtleff (Olszewski) Service Information

Joan Mary Shurtleff originally of West Trenton, NJ died unexpectedly, yet peacefully on June 20, 2020 at R.W. Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, N.J. She was 87 years old.

Joan was the loving wife of the late James W. Shurtleff Sr., married on December 26, 1953 and first resided in Bloomfield Hills, MI until relocating to Ewing Township, NJ in 1972.

Born on November 9, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, Joan was the loving daughter of the late Dominik and Helen Olszewski and sister of the late Richard Olszewski.

Joan was a devout practicing Roman Catholic and faithfully held her religion sacred. She loved to travel and cherished her memories of cruising worldwide with Jim to numerous destinations and discovering many diverse cultures. Joan was highly educated and completed her Undergraduate degree and earned her Masters from the College of New Jersey, while busily immersed in raising and caring for her large family. She was an exceptional role model, who taught her children the real importance of good morals, strong values and polite manners. She greatly appreciated the beauty of this country and she and Jim brought them camping across the states in a big RV, visiting many National Parks to see their outstanding beauty and grandeur. She had them experience enriching, unique activities wherever they visited. Joan was an avid reader of all genres of literature, and often exchanged and discussed books with others who shared her passion. She thoroughly enjoyed the cultural arts attending Broadway shows, the Metropolitan Opera, NYC Art Museums and loved various types of music, from classical to rock. She was a remarkable cook and took pleasure in many activities such as sewing, gardening and challenging jigsaw puzzles. She relished in watching old movies and was a whiz at Jeopardy, outsmarting many of the contestants and a real pro at Wheel of Fortune. As a true matriarch, she imparted her wide expanse of knowledge and wisdom to her entire family, and took extreme pride in all of their accomplishments.

Joan is survived and will be sadly missed by her eight loving children and their spouses: James W. Jr. and Jill Shurtleff, Paul and Nancy Shurtleff, Julia Villacorta, Patricia Millen, Claudia and Bill Stepien, Sylvia and Jeffrey Cutler, Mark Shurtleff, Carl Shurtleff, and also by Beth Woodhead, Bob Kenny, Douglas Millen and Ybet Villacorta.

Joan is the very endearing sweet “Grammy” of seventeen grandchildren and their spouses: James the III and Whitney Shurtleff, Jenna Shurtleff, Lauren and Joe Cronin, Corinne Shurtleff, Amelia and Joe Lojek, Natalie Villacorta, Julian Villacorta, Christopher Millen, Katie and Nick Cramarossa, Elizabeth Millen, Rachel Stepien, Danielle Stepien, Rebecca Cutler, David Cutler, Jonathan Cutler, Bailey Shurtleff and Grant Shurtleff. She is Great Grandmother to Sebastian Cronin and Blake and Carter Lojek. She will truly be missed by all of them.
 

Joan is survived by Jim’s only brother Thomas Shurtleff, Sr., the late MaryEllen, and MaryAnn Shurtleff, his children Tom Jr. and Julie Shurtleff, Paul Michael Shurtleff, Peter and Lina Shurtleff, his four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She is also survived by her dearest cousin Dolores and the late Robert Smith, as well as by their children and grandchildren.
 

Due to the current difficult circumstances and limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Memorial service in Joan’s honor will be determined at a later date.
 

Donations may be made by a kind gesture of Charity in Joan’s memory.

Send Flowers And Gifts