Joyce Catherine Voorhees Harris Ernst has finished her virtuous work here now moving on in her mission to always do good in all ways, in all places, with all people. Born March 20, 1938, to Clarence and Kathryn Voorhees, she lived her childhood years in Bound Brook with her siblings: Carol, twin brother Richard, John “Gary” and Lee. Losing both her parents prematurely, she helped her sister Carol care for her brothers, learning at too young an age to foster a devoted, compassionate family.
In 1959, Joyce married Lee Arnold Harris and built an open, happy and loving home for their daughters and all their friends and neighbors. The home was the base for holiday traditions, family and friend dinners that often included more than 50 people, with Joyce unflappable and easy as hostess. Lee died in February of 1997, leaving Joyce and her family with heavy hearts.
In 1999, Joyce married John Ernst, a loving and loyal husband who provided her great companionship, and in these last years, difficult caregiving duties. John lovingly embraced Joyce’s extended family and friends as Joyce opened her heart to John’s children and grandchildren. They spent many hours in their Toms River and Florida homes playing Scrabble and Dominoes, as well as golfing and hosting friends and family for endless luncheons, dinners, and celebrations.
Joyce will always be remembered for her amazing ability to be a true friend. She maintains strong friendships with people from every phase of her life from childhood, her New Jersey Avenue, Brookside, Haines Cove, Panther Paw neighbors, the Junior Women’s Club, The Toms River and The Forest Country Clubs and The Manasquan River Golf Club. She maintained these connections through her tremendous ability to write cards and letters, often weekly. She was always the first to bring a meatloaf or ask for prayers to show her love and concern.
Joyce was predeceased by her beloved husband Lee Arnold Harris, her parents Clarence and Kathryn Voorhees, her sister Carol Duhamel, her in-laws George Harris, Ellyce Harris,Georgeanne Harris Baldwin, Ellen Harris, Barry Harris and her beloved grandson, Jared Harris-Piedra.
She will be missed by her surviving family, her husband John Ernst, her daughters and their families: Julie Harris (El Escorial, Spain), Karen Harris and Theodore Josberger (Little Silver, NJ),Kimberly and Lawrence Cuneo (Pine Beach, NJ), Jennifer Harris-Jacobus and Lee Jacobus (Toms River, NJ), John and Cathy Ernst (Beachwood), Jim and Helen Ernst (Cape May NJ), Kathy and Mike Kohlhepp (Wellington, FL), her cherished grandchildren: Scott and Megan Delahunt, Geoffrey Cuneo and fiancée Hannah Martin, Alexis Cuneo, Lucila Harris-Piedra, Hannah Jacobus, Madison Jacobus, Trey Tambouri, Harrison Jacobus, Danielle and Ryan Padgett, Jeffrey Kohlhepp, Michael Kohlhepp, Nathan Ernst, Ronald Ernst, John Ernst Jr., her precious great-grand-daughter, Harper Lee Delahunt,and her brothers: Richard, Gary and Lee Voorhees, and many treasured nieces, nephews and countless friends.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2015, at 11:00AM, at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, 1070 Hooper Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations to the House of Hope or the Lee A. Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rutgers University, would be appreciated. Family and friends may visit www.Andersonandcampbell.com to offer condolences to her family.
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