General Information

Full Name: Joan Kramer
Date of Death: Friday, April 4, 2025

Joy Kramer, 86, of Rockaway, NJ passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025.

Joy was the daughter of the late Rubin and Molly Katz of Brooklyn NY, where she was born on January 3, 1939. Joy went to Tilden High School in Brooklyn, NY. She met her beloved husband Nat Kramer at a dance hall in 1956 when she was 18 years old. Nat recalls seeing Joy and her girlfriend at the dance, but picked Joy wearing the periwinkle angora sweater. It was love at first sight as he approached her and asked her to dance. Most memorable pastime was enjoying long walks in the park after dining on egg rolls and egg drop soup at a favorite Chinese restaurant.

In 1974, Joy and Nat left Brooklyn along with their 2 children, Warren and Debbie, and made their home in Rockaway, NJ. Joy was an active member at White Meadow Temple/Or Hadash, and the President of White Meadow Sisterhood for two terms. She was involved with numerous activities and fundraisers.

Joy worked as a Secretary at Saint Clares Hospital Behavioral Health Dept. and also at Franciscan Oaks Adult Living for approx. 10 years at each. She loved her work and considered her colleagues her second family. Wherever she worked she created a warm inviting space that attracted people to her bubbly personality.

Like her mother, Joy’s passion was knitting, she was rarely without a knitting project in the works. She knit hats, blankets, sweaters, socks for her grandchildren, friends grandchildren and to donation opportunities. Anything Joy made was “made with love”, as the tag she adorned it with said. Her craft room was filled top to bottom with everything imaginable which let her creativity flow. An avid collector of dolls, she and Nat enjoyed going to antique fairs and craft shows where they would sell her creations . She had a “green thumb”, and her sunroom, and most every room, has always been blooming with flowers and green foliage.

Joy was not only a great listener, she was a wonderful storyteller, in fact, every collectible and trinket she had, would come with a story for anyone wanting to hear. Fondly remembered is her soft sweet expressive voice for bedtime reading. She drew you in and made every character come to life. We felt cradled with love in her every word. She and Nat were always the first on the dance floor at any party, with Nat twirling is forever bride. She loved her Shih-Tzu dog Suki, who was of great comfort to her all her life and is considered the neighborhood therapy dog.

Those that knew Joy will remember her beautiful smile, her outgoing personality, the sound of her giggle and big heart. Her surviving family will forever remember and cherish her. She is pre-deceased by her loving son, Warren Kramer. She is survived by her beloved husband, Nat Kramer, of 68 years of marriage, her daughter Debbie Dunivan and her husband Kevin Dunivan, her granddaughter Abby Nestel, daughter in law Fatim Kramer and grandson Adam Kramer.

A private burial was held on April 8, 2025 at Mount Golda Cemetery, Huntington Station NY.

Memorial Donations can be made to Temple Or Hadash, 153 White Meadow Road, Rockaway, NJ 07866, 973-627-4500.