Plan for the Future
Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many, Nancy Elizabeth (Phyliky) Vroom, age 92, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home in Green Village, New Jersey, on February 3, 2024. Nancy was born in Morristown, NJ, on March 27, 1931, to the late Dr. Harold and Idabelle (Pope) Phyliky.
Nancy attended Morristown schools and graduated from Morristown High School in 1948. She was very active in clubs and activities throughout her school years. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Trenton State Teachers College, where she met Peter Vroom, whom she married in August 1952. The newlyweds lived in Morristown until buying their house in Green Village in 1956, where they raised their daughters Jennifer and Amanda. Nancy and Pete enjoyed 41 happy years together until his death in 1993.
Nancy was very active in the Chatham Seniors group, where she met Roland Johnson in a seniors exercise class. They married in May 2008 and enjoyed many years of traveling together, including summers on Long Beach Island, until Ro’s death in 2014.
Nancy taught 5th grade before becoming a mother. She then taught preschool for 28 years – first at Madison Co-Op Nursery School and later at Morristown Presbyterian Nursery School. She also worked in a Kindergarten Title I program for the Morris School District.
Nancy exemplified her favorite phrase, “People are more important than things”, by hosting countless parties that included fun games and delicious culinary creations. She also enjoyed really getting to know the people she met through her many endeavors and interests. She was a member of the Green Village United Methodist Church (President of United Methodist Women), Green Village Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Canal Society of New Jersey (Charter Member, Corresponding Secretary, Brunch Committee Chair), American Canal Society, Historical Society of Chatham Township (Program Committee Co-Chair and Trustee), Madison Historical Society, League of Historical Societies of New Jersey, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Chatham Senior Center, New Jersey Jazz Society, Lackawanna Power Squadron, and Cedar-Mar Yacht Club.
In the 1960’s, Nancy was a columnist for the “Village News”, Madison Eagle/Chatham Courier, and also helped the successful effort to save the Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport.
She was an accomplished crossword puzzler, a prolific poet, and a frequent sender of greeting cards to her many friends and family members.
With their daughters, Nancy and Pete spent many summers in Ocean Gate and Toms River, enjoying marina life and power boating aboard “Jenanda” which Nancy called their “floating cottage”.
Nancy enjoyed traveling via car, plane, train, canal boat, and cruise ship to places near and far, including many trips to Europe touring on canal boats.
After being stricken with Transverse Myelitis in 1999, Nancy spent nearly 6 months at RIMM (Rehabilitation Institute of Morristown Memorial), where she learned to walk again. She kept a positive attitude throughout this arduous challenge, while she focused on getting to know her many dedicated therapists and caregivers. She wrote several poems and articles embodying her positive attitude, and she was an inspiration to all who knew her.
The family is eternally grateful to Nancy’s extraordinary caregiver Luba for 12+ years of devoted loving care. Also appreciated are the caring staff of Atlantic Health Hospice for their kindness during the past 18 months.
In addition to her parents, Nancy was predeceased by her husband Peter Vroom (1993), her husband Roland Johnson (2014), and her brother Dr. Robert Phyliky (2023).
Left to cherish Nancy’s memories are her daughters Jennifer Braun (James, Jr.) and Amanda Vogler (Thomas); her dedicated caregiver Luba; her stepson Laird Johnson (Nancy); her grandchildren Ben Vogler, James Braun, Lucas Vogler, and Jessica Braun; her sister-in-law Julia Phyliky, and four nieces Carrie, Debbie, Lisa and Robin, and their families, as well as countless faithful friends.
Private cremation services have been entrusted to Bradley Funeral Home, Chatham, NJ.
