Joan D. Finnerty

Joan D. Finnerty, formerly a lifelong resident of Harrison, NJ entered into eternal rest surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, October 26, 2025   at the Community

Hospice in Jacksonville. She was 91 years old.

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue Harrison, NJ on Saturday, November 15, 2025.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Harrison at 1:00 pm.   Friends and relatives of Joan and her family may attend her Memorial Gathering at the funeral home on Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 9:00am until Noon.  

Born in Jersey City and raised in Kearny, Joan moved to Harrison at 18 years old and resided there until she was 89 years old.  She moved to Florida to be with her family in

January of 2024, but the Town of Harrison was her always her favorite place and where she called home. 

Joan was a tireless volunteer in so many organizations and was an active member of Holy Cross Church. She coordinated several fundraisers for Holy Cross Church during

her time as an active parishioner.  Joan belonged to the Cancer Society, the Rosary Society, the Holy Name Society, the many PTA’s at Holy Cross School and Harrison

High School when her children were young. She worked bingo at Holy Cross well into her late 70’s. She ran a monthly bus ride to Atlantic City from Holy Cross Church for

more than 30 years.  She organized and chaired Tricky Trays, rummage sales, bake sales, and Sunday coffee fund raisers for more than 35 years. Holy Cross Church was

truly her second home. Joan was a switch board operator for many years for various law firms in Newark, before going to work for the Town of Harrison where she spent 28

years, retiring in 2023 at the age of 88!  Joan was Senior of the Year for the Town of Harrison and received The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal in the 1990’s.  This is the

highest honor bestowed by the Catholic Church and the Pope to those who have dedicated their lives to advancing the church's mission. She was truly a tireless and

selfless woman who gave of herself endlessly and always put others first, she will be

missed beyond measure. 

When Joan was not volunteering or working, she spent her spare time traveling the world, cruising, and visiting Atlantic City.  To know Joan, was to know her love of a slot

machine, however, her deepest passion was the love for her large family; they were truly her whole reason for living.   

Joan is survived by her loving children, Maureen Hagan, Michael Finnerty, and Kathleen Enright and her husband Raymond Enright.  Eight cherished grandchildren, Melynda

Weingartner, Tara Barry, Toni Passenti, Tina Riccio, Nicole Sauers, William Finnerty, Brandon Giannuzzi, and Justin Giannuzzi. Joan is also survived by 18 great-

grandchildren and two great-great children as well as her two sisters Grace Casement and Loretta Andrewski-Vecere.  In addition, Joan has many nieces, nephews, and

friends who loved her deeply.  Joan is predeceased by her mother and father, John and Wanda Engles, and her husband Joseph Finnerty, and her beloved oldest son Joseph

Finnerty.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mulliganfh.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations Catholic Charities USA in care of the funeral home in loving memory of Joan.

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