Joyce C. Oppenheimer, age 82 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Monday, February 12, 2024, at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ.
Joyce Oppenheimer was born in 1941, in the beautiful little town of Park Ridge, New Jersey, to her parents, Edwin and Ruth (Nather) Oppenheimer. She was the oldest girl of seven siblings, who truly loved the town she was born in, exploring, and playing not only with her older brother, Bob, but also her younger sister, Ruthann, and many other neighborhood children. During her younger years, she was closely attached to and loved dearly her grandparents. The influence of these close relatives helped her evolve into a kind, compassionate, and caring individual.
At age 11, her family moved to Freeport, Long Island, and several other towns in New Jersey, finally residing on a mountain top in the Catskills of New York State. She graduated from Tannersville High School with a nursing scholarship and followed her dreams to become a registered nurse. She attended Jersey City Medical Center Nursing School, where she received her BS and RN degree. After graduation, she enthusiastically and diligently worked as a registered nurse at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.
Joyce decided while she was in her late twenties to hone into her artistic creative side. Since her father and grandfather had been commercial graphic artists this influenced her to change careers. Eventually giving up her nursing skills, she started her own business, designing and creating the most unique one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces with an emphasis on the tree of life, mountains, flowers, and birds. Her business, Designs in Silver, was a huge success. In 1974, in a stroke of magic and undoubtedly something quite divine, Joyce met Nanci at an art exhibit, united and became a loving and formidable team.
In 1984, Joyce and Nanci combined their creative talents and opened their first shop in Flemington, New Jersey.N’Joy Yourself!, a combination of their first names, was a beautiful country home decorating and interior design shop, specializing in not only country antiques, which they acquired from all over New England, and handmade works from over 150 artists. Over the course of the next thirty-five years, enriching the town of Flemington and beyond, they maintained a thriving business tirelessly working to provide their loyal customers with only the best.
In 2017, they sold the business and finally retired to spend more time with family and do something else fun! Since their love of antiques and preserving history was always a priority, they created Vintage Friends Antiques, an online and in-person antique business specializing in 18th and 19thCentury country primitives.
Joyce was a vibrant and active bright light in the world, who enjoyed being around family and friends, surrounded by nature, hiking, gardening, mountain climbing, and traveling from coast to coast across the USA on National Park adventures. These adventures brought her such contentment and pleasure, especially when accompanied by her three sisters, Ruthann, Linda, and Cheryl, and of course, Nanci. The White Mountains of New Hampshire, all New England, and Acadia National Park in Maine, were especially special spots. She loved music and had a beautiful singing voice. Many times, she played her guitar and softly sang folk songs while harmonizing with her sisters, sitting around a blazing campfire. Singers Peter, Paul, and Mary, John Denver, and Cat Stevens, were among her very favorites.
Joyce was a strong, positive, and fiercely independent woman, yet modest, soft, and warm, wearing the perfect outfit from Talbots, matching shoes, and her hair done beautifully (always dressed to the nines). She was drawn to people of all ages, with the energy of someone half her age. Her love of family and friends is undeniable. Her life’s journey was most definitely a spiritual one based on her faith, the written word of God, and her love of everything good and decent. Her journey is now over. Her bright light has been diminished and she will be dearly missed tremendously by all who loved her.
Fly high our beloved angel, fly high to those waiting to hold you in their embrace!
In addition to her parents, Edwin and Ruth Oppenheimer, Joyce is predeceased by her sister, Ruthann Zorn, and brothers, Robert and Edwin Jr. Oppenheimer.
Surviving is her life-long partner, Nanci Wainwright; sisters, Linda Oppenheimer, and Cheryl Olenick (Paul); brother, Ron Oppenheimer (Rhonda); cousins, Ken Nather (Wendall), Richard Oppenheimer (John), and Brian Nather; her special brother-in-law, Alfred Wainwright (Nancy Ruth); many nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great-nephews; and many dear friends.
Friends and family are invited for a gathering 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
A Life Celebration Service celebrated by D.J. Wright will be held immediately following the gathering on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
You are encouraged to visit Joyce’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked for contributions to be made via mail to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking HERE, via mail to Habitat for Humanity International, 322 West Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709-3543 or online by clicking HERE, or via mail to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 or online by clicking HERE.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
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