Joy Mackwell Brady

Joy Mackwell Brady of Point Pleasant, NJ and Cronulla, NSW, Australia passed away at the age of 87 on January 10, 2020. Joy fully embodied the meaning of her name. She adored her family and set a beautiful example of loving unconditionally and sacrificially and enjoying the simplest to the most sophisticated. All cherished her sharp but quiet wit and valued the wisdom she shared. She filled many lifetimes into one as she had great energy and loved to do everything with everyone. Amongst those things that made her happiest were spending time with her family, dancing and holding hands with her beloved husband, Ron. Joy met Ron, the love of her life, while on a cruise ship in Greece. They went on to joyously travel the world together. Joy was born in Passaic, NJ on April 12, 1932. As a child, she lived in many locations across the United States. Joy and her family eventually settled in Short Hills, NJ and then Bay Head and Point Pleasant, NJ. Joy graduated from Pompton Lakes High School, where she was a cheerleader and then from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1954. She taught elementary education in Glen Rock, NJ and was a kindergarten teacher at the Oak Knoll School in Summit, NJ for many years. She also taught many art courses for youth. While raising her three daughters, she earned an additional bachelors degree in Visual Arts from Kean University. Since Joy was a child, she treasured sports, culture and the arts, and being in nature. Joy and her family greatly enjoyed the outdoors together and were members of the Essex Skating Club of New Jersey and took pleasure in tennis and social activities at the Racquets Club in Short Hills, the Wyoming Club in Millburn, and the Bay Head Yacht Club. She was also a Girl Scout leader and enjoyed gardening throughout her life. Joy belonged to several museums in New York, regularly attended the ballet, theatre, and opera, and savored her gourmet group. She was active in the auxiliary of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She and her family were members of the Community Congregational Church in Short Hills, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School. Most recently, Joy loved swimming, yoga, and walking along the shore, visiting natural wonders wherever she traveled, and singing with her family. She shared all of her passions with her daughters and grandchildren and inspired them accordingly. She is survived by her husband Ronald Brady, her three daughters Carol Craig Hewit and her husband David of Normandy Beach, NJ, Susan Joy Craig Brown and her husband Rob of Newtown, PA, Laurie Craig Goetz and her husband James of Greensboro, NC, her brother David Mackwell and his wife Diantha of Pukalani, HI, nine grandchildren: David C. Hewit, Jr. (Christine), Craig H. Hewit, Leanne P. Hewit, Julie-Anne Goetz Miller (Jon-Michael), Christina J. Stires, Christiana Joy Goetz Fidler (David), Wicks Stires, Jeremy B. Goetz, Joshua D. Goetz, and one great-grandchild, Pierce O. Hewit, as well as many beloved cousins including Deborah Burden, Barbara Giera, and Sally Bauer. Joy was predeceased by her parents Arthur Noble Mackwell and Mabel Marie Mulford Mackwell, her baby sister, Susan, brother Arthur Mackwell (surviving widow Gladys Kessler Mackwell), and her first husband and father of her children, Edwin Eugene Craig. A service to celebrate her life will be held at the Bay Head Chapel found at the corner of Bridge and Main Avenues, Bay Head, NJ on Sunday, February 9 at 12:30 PM and will be presided by the Reverend David Cotton. Memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Joy Brady.