Joan Madsen

Joan Madsen, age 88, of Packanack Lake, Wayne NJ, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Joan had lived in Packanack Lake, since 1957 then moved to Kinnelon in 1987. After the passing of her husband in 2013, she returned to Packanack Lake to live with her daughter Michele Cantwell and son-in-law Kevin Cantwell.

Joan worked as graphics coordinator for TRW in Fairfield New Jersey for over twenty years and prior to that she worked at Prudential Insurance in Newark. While raising her children, she was active in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church offices and volunteering in the community of Packanack Lake.

Joan was raised in Passaic, NJ where she graduated from high school. She was the captain of cheerleading team at Passaic High School. She maintained her passion for supporting sports throughout her life and passed much of it on to her children and grandchildren, many of whom are also accomplished athletes. Inspired by her mother, who was a designer’s seamstress, Joan had a flair for fashion and design, and received a full scholarship to Parson’s School of Design, NYC.

In the summer of 1947 Joan Lajeskie met the love of her life, Christian “Fred” Madsen. He and a close friend had traveled up north for a day at the lake. They noticed a picnic going on across the lake and took a row boat across to the picnic. Upon reaching the shore Fred connected with the eyes of the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered. He said to his friend, “I am going to marry that girl”. They married in 1951 and the rest is history. Their love for each other was extraordinary, beautiful and everlasting.  

Joan was best known for her quiet, kind, genuine and devoted nature with a true compassion and heartfelt goodwill.  She was a patient and supportive listener who embraced the importance of family, honor and integrity in everything she did. She will be remembered for her sweet, kind and loving disposition, especially towards her children and grandchildren.

Over the years, Joan enjoyed sewing, embroidery, quilting, gathering with her friends for bridge club and traveling with her husband Fred. She and Fred had an adventurous spirit and for many years they traveled on vacations to Hawaii, Mexico, Virgin Islands and eventually to explore Europe. They took their family on camping explorations up and down the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Their children were inspired by these travels, which led to some having settled in Southern California, where Joan and Fred frequently visited. The adventures they have shared together have helped to create a trove of treasured memories and happy times that her family will cherish throughout their lifetimes. She will always be remembered as a caring person, a loving wife and a most wonderful mother and grandmother. She will be missed dearly.

Joan is survived by her four daughters; Elisa “Lisa” Madsen of Bridgewater, NJ, Pamela Madsen and her husband Eric Dries of Laguna Beach, CA, Kathy Madsen of Carlsbad, CA, and Michele Madsen Cantwell and her husband Kevin of Wayne, and four grandchildren: Lauren and William Nutter of Carlsbad, Annika Dries of Laguna Beach, and Danielle Cantwell of San Diego, California. She is predecased by her husband Christian Fred Madsen her mother Catherine Lajeskie and father Edward Lajeskie of Passaic, New Jersey.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to further Parkinson disease research www.parkinson.org