Joan E. Cella, 88, of Holmdel died peacefully on December 14^th at Sunrise of Lincroft.

Joan was born and raised in West New York, NJ. She graduated from Memorial High School and is a graduate of Montclair State University with a BS in Education. Joan was a teacher for 29 years in the Hazlet School system where she taught honors English and touched and inspired thousands of students.

Joan loved spending time with her family and especially loved spending Sundays cooking up dishes for the family to enjoy while gathering for football games.

She was passionate about her profession teaching Shakespeare and inspired many students that have stayed in touch with her throughout their lives, she not only taught English but impacted future writers and poets. She conveyed the true definition of teaching. She was an avid writer, and a book was published for her family to enjoy titled, “A Life Told in Haikus”, a collection of 450 haikus. She was a master crochet artist and crocheted many blankets for the church.  She enjoyed her Sundays at the Church of Saint Catharine with her husband as they both served as Eucharistic Ministers as well as teaching religious classes during the summer months. She enjoyed her time with family whether at her vacation home in Lake Naomi or in Bonita Springs.

What her family will miss most is her quick wit, she could lighten a mood in a flash and loved to gather the family to read her essays about her life on motherhood, teaching and her life growing up in West New York.

Joan will now join the love of her life, husband Louis E. Cella of 61 years.

Joan and Louis have four children and 8 grandchildren: Louis R. Cella and Robbin Gilbert, Ocean Township, Stephen Cella, her daughter-in-law, Lynn and their children, Maximillian and Nicholas, Holmdel; Christopher Cella and his wife Joann and children Justine, Christopher and Clare, Flemington; Paul Cella and his wife Gina and their children Sophia, Marco and Jorgia, Oceanport.

Visitation Sunday, December 18^th 1:00-4:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Mass of Christian burial, Monday, December 19^th 9:15 am at Church of St. Catharine, 108 Middletown Road, Holmdel.  Entombment to follow in Holmdel Mausoleum. Donations may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society at the Church of St. Catharine.  For messages of condolence, please visit Joan’s page of tributes at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.