Obituary for Joan L. Ferguson
It is with great sadness that the Ferguson family announces the passing of our loving mother and grandmother, Joan Lorraine Ferguson, 82, who died peacefully in hospice care in Riverview Medical Center on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Joan was born on December 3, 1940 to Polish immigrants with whom she adored. She was the youngest of four children and was predeceased by her father Joseph Haider Sr. a carpenter and her mother Stella, as well as her two older sisters, Dorothy (Van Riper) and Irene (Preziosi) and brother, Joseph Haider Jr.
She is survived by her three sons, Barry Ferguson, 60, of Neptune NJ, Bruce Ferguson 58 and Lynn Ferguson, 53, both of Eatontown, NJ and was most proud of her three grandchildren from her son Barry. Sean Ferguson 29 of Sterling, NJ, Jamie Ferguson 24, of Brooklyn, NY and Cassandra Ferguson, 19, of Neptune, NJ.
Joan was born in Long Branch, NJ and spent her first nineteen years there having graduated from Long Branch High school in 1959 where it was her ambition to become a flight attendant and to ride horses. She loved riding horses and enjoyed the freedom that riding horses gave her.
She was married to the late George Ferguson of West Long Branch and was married for 21 years until their divorce in 1981 after which, she worked as a nurse’s aide at both Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ and at Marlboro Hospital until 1996 while she attended Brookdale Community College as a nursing major.
Joan was a communicant of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch, NJ and was an ardent believer in the power of her faith and in her devotion to the Blessed Mother. For all she went through in life she always pressed upon her children and grandchildren the importance of God in all things.
One of her favorite hobbies was to play the organ. She was self taught and enjoyed playing all kinds of music. Her tastes ranged from the Big Band era of the 1940’s (which she loved to dance to) to early rock and roll of her teen years to classical musical. She also enjoyed listening to Rod Stewart singing the Great American Standards.
She passed on her love of music to her sons who are also musicians as well as her grandson who is a music teacher and Director of Bands at Somerville High School in at Somerville, NJ and enjoyed watching her kids both sing and play their instruments.
What she loved the most was spending time with her family. Any occasion was a chance to have fun and party with her grandkids. She always joked to them that she was too young to look like a grandma but made them laugh as if she was half her age. She was an incredible cook who always made a great meal for her guests. During Christmas time, her molasses cookies were always the hit of the holidays.
Joan was a resident of Oceanport, NJ from 1970 to 2019 where you could find her out in her backyard tending to her garden from the spring planting season until the fall. She was an avid gardener and loved to plant all kinds of vegetables. When she wasn’t gardening she’d spend her time outdoors on her deck with her favorite dog, Shandi.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Joan Ferguson on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway in West Long Branch, NJ. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.
Joan was born on December 3, 1940 to Polish immigrants with whom she adored. She was the youngest of four children and was predeceased by her father Joseph Haider Sr. a carpenter and her mother Stella, as well as her two older sisters, Dorothy (Van Riper) and Irene (Preziosi) and brother, Joseph Haider Jr.
She is survived by her three sons, Barry Ferguson, 60, of Neptune NJ, Bruce Ferguson 58 and Lynn Ferguson, 53, both of Eatontown, NJ and was most proud of her three grandchildren from her son Barry. Sean Ferguson 29 of Sterling, NJ, Jamie Ferguson 24, of Brooklyn, NY and Cassandra Ferguson, 19, of Neptune, NJ.
Joan was born in Long Branch, NJ and spent her first nineteen years there having graduated from Long Branch High school in 1959 where it was her ambition to become a flight attendant and to ride horses. She loved riding horses and enjoyed the freedom that riding horses gave her.
She was married to the late George Ferguson of West Long Branch and was married for 21 years until their divorce in 1981 after which, she worked as a nurse’s aide at both Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ and at Marlboro Hospital until 1996 while she attended Brookdale Community College as a nursing major.
Joan was a communicant of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch, NJ and was an ardent believer in the power of her faith and in her devotion to the Blessed Mother. For all she went through in life she always pressed upon her children and grandchildren the importance of God in all things.
One of her favorite hobbies was to play the organ. She was self taught and enjoyed playing all kinds of music. Her tastes ranged from the Big Band era of the 1940’s (which she loved to dance to) to early rock and roll of her teen years to classical musical. She also enjoyed listening to Rod Stewart singing the Great American Standards.
She passed on her love of music to her sons who are also musicians as well as her grandson who is a music teacher and Director of Bands at Somerville High School in at Somerville, NJ and enjoyed watching her kids both sing and play their instruments.
What she loved the most was spending time with her family. Any occasion was a chance to have fun and party with her grandkids. She always joked to them that she was too young to look like a grandma but made them laugh as if she was half her age. She was an incredible cook who always made a great meal for her guests. During Christmas time, her molasses cookies were always the hit of the holidays.
Joan was a resident of Oceanport, NJ from 1970 to 2019 where you could find her out in her backyard tending to her garden from the spring planting season until the fall. She was an avid gardener and loved to plant all kinds of vegetables. When she wasn’t gardening she’d spend her time outdoors on her deck with her favorite dog, Shandi.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Joan Ferguson on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway in West Long Branch, NJ. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.