Joan L. Horowitz

Joan was born Joan Lillian Paer on December 19, 1930, in the Bronx, New York. She married her beloved husband, Leon (“Lee”) Horowitz, on December 24, 1950 and the couple moved to New Jersey to begin a family and raise their daughters, Marcie and Ellen. After many years in East Brunswick, Joan and Lee moved to Pennsylvania and, finally, to southern California, where they spent more than 20 years together relishing their retirement until Lee’s passing in 2010. In 2015, Joan moved back to New Jersey to be closer to her family.

Joan’s life revolved around her family, her friends, her pets, and her career. In the mid-1960s, Joan returned to the workplace. It didn’t take long for her employers to recognize her keen intelligence, common sense, and excellent people skills. The pinnacle of her career – and the job of which she was most proud – was her position as Administrative Assistant to the President of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Pennsylvania.

Joan loved animals – they were her passion. She pampered a series of beloved pets throughout her life, including her dog Penny; her birds Chipper and Fritzi; and her cats Maggie, Sunny, and Lucie. In mid-life, she volunteered as a docent at the Philadelphia Zoo. Later, in retirement, Joan and Lee both spent many hours wandering the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Lee; her parents Sue Farovitch and Samuel Paer; her step-father Albert Weiss; her brothers Richard Paer and Ira Weiss; and her lifelong friends Marvin Laba and Minnette Epter. She is survived by her daughters Marcie Ruth Horowitz and Ellen Horowitz; her granddaughter Star Goldstein; her brother John Paer; her daughter-in-law Margaret Maloney and son-in-law Eddie Goldstein; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family is planning a memorial celebration later this year in California, where Joan will be laid to rest with her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory can be made to the San Diego Wild Animal Park or any animal charity of your choice.