Plan for the Future
Joan L. Mahalla, 68, of Elizabeth, NJ, passed peacefully at home on May 24, 2023. Born in Elizabeth, Joan was a graduate of Roselle Catholic High School. She was a medical transcriptionist for over 20 years at hospitals and medical offices. A devout Christian, she taught Sunday school and was a member of several different congregations.
Joan danced to the beat of her own drum and was truly original with a unique spirit. Beautiful, creative, unconventional and witty, she had an uncanny ability to recall dates and times for everything. Joan loved music and played the organ at St. Joseph’s Church in Roselle in her youth. She also played piano, wrote several songs, sang and loved going to concerts. She was an avid ice skater and spent many enjoyable hours on the ice. She had a great love of animals and had four dogs throughout her life. She very much enjoyed nature, the changing colors of the leaves, riding her bike and taking long walks.
Joan was a proud, loving and devoted mother and her daughter’s biggest fan with endless encouragement and support. She is survived by her daughter Rebecca M. Lowe and her husband David Underwood, her sister Diane DeCarlo and her husband William Puchik and her brother Ted Mahalla.
There will be a Graveside Service on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 10 am at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave. East Hanover, NJ (Section 31). Following the Graveside, there will be a Memorial Gathering from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at Bradley Braviak Funeral Home, 49 Whippany Rd. Whippany, NJ. This will include a Celebration of Life Service beginning at 12:30 pm where family and friends can share memories. Lunch will be served following the service.
