Mary Joan Swanson Coombs

Mary Joan Swanson Coombs “Joan Coombs”, age 84, of Wayne, passed away peacefully into God’s loving arms on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

Born in Teaneck, Joan was raised in Fairview, NJ in the family home on Walker Street.

Already as a young lady, Joan was always looking for ways to exercise her independent and adventurous spirit. One particular adventure that she seemed to get a real kick out of was taking trips out west to spend time vacationing on a dude ranch and living the life of a cowgirl. When she returned her travel bags were always full of thoughtful souvenirs for family and friends.  
 
Joan eventually settled down and married William “Bill” Coombs in 1985. A year later she, her new husband and her widowed mom, May, moved to Wayne. Joan was a wonderful and dedicated daughter and now with the help of Bill, they lovingly cared for May as her health declined until her passing a few years later. Joan and Bill enjoyed a long and loving marriage until Bill’s passing in 2013. Joan continued to keep residence in Wayne until her passing.

Throughout her lifetime Joan held various administrative assistant and receptionist positions with different companies. She loved commuting by bus to New York City where she enjoyed working in the publishing industry. Many times after work, she would remain in the City to meet up with her girlfriends for dinner and a Broadway show. Music and theater were favorite pastimes of Joan and, when home, she loved catching a movie on television, especially the old classics. In more recent years, Joan chose to work closer to home holding administrative positions for a local law firm, furniture store and car dealership.

Joan and Bill shared a love for traveling. They especially enjoyed annual stays in Cape May at quaint bed and breakfasts, typically choosing to go in the off-season when things were a little quieter. Wherever they traveled Joan would often pick up anything that was tulip-themed, as she loved adorning her home with tulips crafted out of wood and small tulip paintings. Even her bedroom furniture featured carved tulips. Ironically, she wasn’t especially enamored with gardening and thus tulips did not adorn the curbside appeal of her and Bill’s home.

In later years, Joan loved nothing better than getting together with family or friends for lunch. She seemed to possess a particular attraction to buffets and especially the local one that featured both Chinese and Italian cuisine. Always full of energy, if you received a phone call from Joan, you’d better be prepared to settle in for a while as she could easily chat for up to an hour at a time.    

Throughout her lifetime, Joan always remained devout in her faith. She loved going to mass and she had been a longtime parishioner of Annunciation R.C. Church in Wayne.

Joan was predeceased by her beloved husband William Coombs in 2013. She is survived by her cousin Patricia Pacheco and her husband Frank Ferrara of Teaneck and their son and daughter: Lorena Camilo and Alex Jaramillo.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joan’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, or online at www.stjude.org