Obituaries

Therese ‘Terry’ Pounds (Joiner): 1927-2024

Therese “Terry” Pounds (Joiner), 97, of Montclair, NJ died peacefully surrounded by family at Mountainside Hospital on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, Terry was born a ‘survivor,’ having lost her mother who died soon after her birth in 1927 in New York City. She subsequently lived all over the world as a self-described “army brat” after her father, Colonel Talley Dosier Joiner, remarried and reclaimed “his little Therese” from her aunts who raised her until she was six. After graduating from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ, Terry briefly attended college at Trinity, DC, then decided to go to Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in NJ. The skills she learned there served her well at her first secretarial jobs in Manhattan, then later at Montclair Kimberly Academy in Montclair where she worked for almost twenty years in the Office of External Affairs. She was proud of her mastery of the rules of English grammar, and many relied on her to proofread their letters. After the death of her husband in 1978, Terry set up a Montclair chapter of THEOS, a nationwide non-denominational support group for widowed men and women. She ran the group for approximately ten years and created friendships from that work that lasted until her death. She was also involved with the Friends of Barnet and the Montclair Fine Arts Festival.

Terry was predeceased in death by her husband, Donald Pounds, her son Richard, her beloved companions, Arthur Jones and Fred Berinato, and her sisters Lucy and Claire. She is survived by her son Donald Pounds and his companion Patrice Holtzer, daughter Mary Pounds Sisler, daughter-in-law Bette Pounds, sons James Pounds (Bethany) and Thomas Pounds (Liljana), daughter Virginia Pounds, sons Michael Pounds (Catherine) and John Pounds. She was the proud grandmother of sixteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Katy, Austin, Colleen, Connor, Jordan, Jason, Jeremy, Natalie, Anika, Evan, Noah, Ben, Eli, Max, Harper and Nolan; Scarlett, Emma, Carson, Peyton and Wesley. She is also survived by a large extended family and countless friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 30 N. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042, followed by interment of ashes at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Upper Montclair.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Terry’s name to The Release Recovery Foundation at: https://donate.hakuapp.com/donations/new?fundraising_effort=in-loving-memory-of-therese-terry-pounds.

Joanne Victoria Lawson

04/23/1942 - 10/22/2024

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Obituary For Joanne Victoria Lawson

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joanne Victoria Lawson, a vibrant soul who left us on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the age of 82. Born on April 23, 1942, in her beloved Toledo, Ohio, born to Eugene and Helen S. (Sulinski) Dybza, Joanne filled her life and the lives of those around her with color and joy.

Joanne was a treasure trove of glitter, laughter, and warmth. Known to many at the Rosary Care Center for her signature bejeweled hats and bright wardrobe, she never missed a chance to dazzle. Her love for bingo and deep appreciation for art and music were only surpassed by her unmatched affection for animals. Joanne took immense pleasure in getting dolled up, always choosing the perfect perfume from her extensive collection to complete her look.

Joanne’s heart and home were always open to family and friends. She leaves behind cherished memories with her sisters, Sister Josephina Dybza and Barbara L. Gallaher; her nieces and nephews, Kathleen G. Bilbrey and husband Douglas Bilbrey: Gene David Gallaher and wife Amy Gallaher; and her great-nephew, David Michael Gallaher.

Joanne’s love also embraced her birth daughter, Victoria Gallaher-Ryan, and her husband, Donald Ryan, along with her grandchildren Cameron Oliver and Crystal Oliver, who held special places in her heart.

Joanne was reunited in heaven with her parents and her dear brother-in-law, David Milton Gallaher.

In honoring Joanne’s wishes, services will be held privately on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 8 a.m. at Queen of Peace Chapel, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, OH 43560. Arrangements were lovingly entrusted to Walker Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, you can also donate (in honor of Joanne Lawson) to the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania at https://sistersosf.org/.

Though she may no longer walk among us, Joanne’s spirit continues to shine brightly through the love and laughter she leaves behind. She will forever be remembered as a beacon of joy and elegance—a true testament to a long life, well-lived.

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