Joanne Flora

Bridgewater, NJ

Joanne Flora, 64, of Bridgewater, NJ, peacefully passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at RWJ Hospital in Somerville. Born in Jersey City, NJ and raised in Bridgewater and Branchburg, Joanne eventually settled in Bridgewater, NJ, where she lived for 28 years.

A graduate of Raritan Valley Community College, Joanne worked at Unisys, amongst other places, but discovered her true calling and passion, when she became a Special Education Assistant with the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, where she worked for 19 years, before retiring last year. During much of that time, she also worked with special needs children privately, since she enjoyed them so much.

While Joanne thoroughly adored working with special needs children, her first love was the beach. At any opportunity that arose, she chose to spend time on the beach, whether it was with her family, friends or even taking the drive alone, did not deter her from soaking in the sun. Dogs, all kinds, held a special place in Joanne's heart as well, but her favorite breed was Labradors. She had many of them as family members throughout the years. Joanne was also fond of sea turtles, having swum with them on a few vacations. She also kept a turtle, Squirt, as a pet. Joanne also had a lifelong dream of visiting Hawaii, which she and her husband Jay were finally able to do after she retired. She was extremely proud of her sons, Kevin and William, and had a close and loving relationship with her family.

She is preceded in death by her loving maternal grandparents, Mary and Joseph Nadolski and her loving paternal grandparents, Margaret Liebel and Frank Flora, Sr. and James "Grampy" Liebel.

Surviving are her devoted husband Jay Smoktunowicz, her parents, Mary and Dominick Flora, her two sons, Kevin Cornell and wife Miranda Feaster, William and wife Shivani Cornell, her two brothers, Frankie and wife Terri Flora and Robert Flora, her two stepchildren, Victoria and Alec Smoktunowicz, her nieces and nephews, Anthony, Amy, Dominick, Franki and Bella. Joanne was also a mother to her dogs Fiona, Weezie and Molly, Squirt the turtle, as well as a grandmother to Rudy the dog and Leo the cat.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 11am-3pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 Rt. 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876. A prayer service will take place at 2:15pm.

Committal is private.