General Information
Full Name: Joyce Lembo
Date of Death: Saturday, November 6, 2021
Joyce Lembo, AKA Lady J, a native New Yorker who resided in Ridgewood, NJ with her daughter’s family in recent years passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 6, 2021 with her daughter at her side after a valiant battle with cancer.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on April 11, 1940, Lady J lived her life to the fullest. She moved to Stony Brook, NY in 1968 where she and her husband, Andy, raised their three children Craig, Loren and Richard. Joyce was always actively involved in the community and the PTA. She was one of the founding members of a Long Island chapter of the American Cancer Society for which she later received an honor commemorating her contributions. In 1994, Joyce moved to Manhattan where, together with her dear and fun-loving friends, she enjoyed many late nights singing at the piano bar at Mimi’s or singing along with the performers at The Duplex. There was not a hot spot in Manhattan that Joyce hadn’t frequented. Eventually, Joyce moved to Astoria, Queens, and has spent the past few years residing in Ridgewood, NJ.
Lady J was a Jane-of-all-trades. During her teenage years she was a long distance telephone operator and later a receptionist for Collier Photo Engraving in Manhattan. When she moved to Stony Brook, she worked as a sales representative for A&S, traveling to all of the store’s east coast locations managing its pop-up sale spaces for seasonal and novelty gift items. After leaving A&S, she became an entrepreneur and started several businesses with friends over the years, including buying and selling antiques and jewelry, creating a sand terrarium business in which her husband and business partner created the terrariums and she and her business partner sold them, decorating belts, jeans and other items with studs and selling them, and the list goes on. She later became interested in skin care and earned certifications in Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Treatments, Manicuring and Apparative Cosmetics, which eventually lead to her opening Slender You, a toning and fitness center for women in Massapequa, NY. Joyce was also a successful real estate broker for Realty 500 in Smithtown, NY for several years and an account & sales representative for a media/advertising company, The WLF Company, in Melville, NY where she conducted marketing and business development.
When Joyce moved to Manhattan, she worked as a sales specialist for the designer Dana Buchman at the Macy’s 34th street location for four years. Thereafter, she was a sales manager for Brownstone Publishers and then the Vendome Group from 1998 until she retired, where she managed a sales team that sold legal newsletters and ancillary products. During this time her colleagues and dear friends coined the nickname “Lady J.”
After retiring, Lady J learned to play bridge and resumed playing mahjong, a game she enjoyed playing with friends in her youth. She was an avid reader and movie goer and developed a love for cooking. Her greatest joy since she retired has been spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren. Even in her later years, Joyce never missed a party and always brought the fire to the dance floor, creating endless memories for family and friends.
Lady J has been an inspiration to all who have known her. She has often said, “Don’t mourn me when I go. Celebrate my life because I had the best life and always had the BEST TIME!” That she did!
Joyce is survived by her children, Loren Lembo Mularz (Paul Mularz) and Richard Lembo (Nancy Spania Lembo) and her six grandchildren, Andrew, Daniel and Manon Mularz and Nicholas, Christopher and Jonathan Lembo. The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, November 13 at 11 am followed by a memorial service/celebration of life at noon at Louis Suburban Chapel, 13-01 Broadway, Fairlawn, NJ 07410. A lunch for family and friends to follow at Indian Trails Club, 830 Franklin Lake Road, Franklin Lakes NJ 07417. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made In Memory Of Joyce Lembo to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/JoyceLembo or via check, made payable to…..
“In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joyce’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to:
Attn: Emily Carter
Memorial Sloan Kettering Office of Development
PO Box 27106
New York, NY 10087
Please ensure the memo line of the check reads: “In memory of Joyce Lembo”
Service Information
Saturday, November 13, 2021 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Service at:
Louis Suburban Chapel
13-01 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Sending my love to Loren, Richard and their families at this difficult time. May you find comfort in those around you and may your memories of all that was Joyce sustain you. Rest in peace Joyce, sweet and lasting peace.
Joyce was one of a kind. This is a beautiful obituary for a woman who really lived and loved. I’ll never forget her stories and the joy she shared with everyone she knew. So many fond memories of Lady J. I was with her when our dear Kwafo gave her that name. She will be missed and she will be remembered with laughter and love because she really did have the best time
Joyce always told me she was raised a princess. Had her laundry done for her, her hair was done every week at the beauty parlor and of course she never cooked. Until one day I had a pool party and she insisted on making the corn on the cob. It was her mothers family secret recipe. My girls were fascinated how she put in milk and sugar in the boiling water sayin this is the Best corn in the world and it was. Joyce was a best friend and my confidant. Like a big sister she gave me advice and encouragement and I always felt inspired by her presence. I will miss you Joyce. Thank you ❤️
Beautiful Loren
I’m still in shock that she’s gone but she’ll be in my heart and mind forever
We had more fun and laughter in our years together.”.okey what’s the next activity??”
I wish I could be there to celebrate her life with you all know I’ll be there in my thoughts.
She was a wonderful woman and I for one was blessed to have her in my life.
Laugh, sing and dance in her memory!!
Love to you, Richard and your families ❤
One of the funniest moments was when Joyce said she didn’t know why she was walking off balance. Looking down at her shoes she realized she had two different shoes on. We laughed and laughed. I remember dancing all night and laughing with this special woman. She made life full of happiness! Heaven will be laughing and singing! My prayers are with her much loved family.🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️
One of the funniest moments was when Joyce said she didn’t know why she was walking off balance. Looking down at her shoes she realized she had two different shoes on. We laughed and laughed. I remember dancing all night and laughing with this special woman. She made life full of happiness! Heaven will be laughing and singing! My prayers are with her much loved family.🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️
I don’t know where to start I guess jr high.we got married bought houses next each other. The children are still friends. I would never have been to all the places she took me to in nyc especially don’t tell mama’s. I love you rip.lady j.
Aunt Joyce and Uncle Andy,
Will always be remembered by me as my “second parents”. Never enough time. R.I.P. fly high with the Angels 🙏- Until we meet again .
My dear friend, my namesake, my Lady J. SHE DID IT HER WAY. She will be missed and in my memory and heart.
Joyce always told me she was raised a princess. Had her laundry done for her, her hair was done every week at the beauty parlor and of course she never cooked. Until one day I had a pool party and she insisted on making the corn on the cob. It was her mothers family secret recipe. My girls were fascinated how she put in milk and sugar in the boiling water sayin this is the Best corn in the world and it was. Joyce was a best friend and my confidant. Like a big sister she gave me advice and encouragement and I always felt inspired by her presence. I will miss you Joyce. Thank you ❤️
Joyce was “the one and only”. She showed me “age is a number, and my number is unlisted”. I will miss her a lot, especially when I got to NY. I have good memories in my heart that I will keep forever. My sympathies to the whole family.
My dearest Jewish mom, I love you and will keep you in my heart forever. I learned from you to live life to the fullest. “People come into your life for a reason and a season”- as you used to say. Your season will last a lifetime. Sending love, prayers, and peace to everyone.
Your mother was one of a kind! She was the most positive woman I’ve known and reassured me in my own cancer journey with her optimism. I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with her on so many trips including the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Caribbean and many more beautiful places! I will treasure those memories. As she said herself numerous times she lived an incredible life and was prepared for her final journey. My love to you, your brother and all of your family.