Joan P. Leather (Huebsch) 86 of Brick formerly of Avon-by-Sea N.J. passed away at home on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 with her family by her side.
She was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on October 5, 1930 and moved to Jersey City N.J. with her mother in 1935 after the death of her father. During the Great Depression her mother took up work as a live-in domestic and Joan lived with and was raised by her aunt and uncle, Amanda and Gustav Dahlman. She attended Snyder High School where she met her future husband Jim Leather. She became a Registered Nurse after attending St. Michaels School of Nursing and SHU. In June 1952 she married Jim Leather prior to his deployment to Korea.
Upon his return from Korea, Jim continued his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. The couple lived on several Marine Corps bases in Quantico, Va., Beaufort, S.C., and Alexandria, Va. until his retirement from the USMC In 1966. During this time they raised seven children and fulfilled their "dream of settling in Avon-by-the-Sea. N.J."
Joan was a devoted mother to her four sons and three daughters, encouraging them to give of themselves to community service and to advance their education. While residing in Avon she was involved in community activities serving as a member and President of the Avon Board of Education, the Local Assistance Board, the Home School Association and Chaired the Avon Bicentennial Commission.
Her nursing career spanned 50 years during which time she was employed in the ICU and Dialysis Unit of Jersey Shore Medical Center, Central Jersey (MCOSS) VNA as a staff nurse and supervisor of the HHA Dept., Training and Service Coordinator of the AFDC Federal Project with the N.J. Department of Human Services, Auditor for the N.J. Commission on Accreditation for Home Care and Director of the Visiting Home Care of Cranford, N.J. She served as a Consultant in the Professional Management of Home Health Aide Services for the Home Health Assembly, Princeton, N.J. Her professional service included chairing the NJ.State Nurses Community Health Division and after becoming the first ANA Certified Community Health Nurse in New Jersey she was appointed to the American Nurses Association Community Health Certification Board in Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1999 the couple moved to Lions Head South in Brick, NJ. She continued to be active in her community serving on several committees and as a member and later president of the Board of Trustees.
Joan and Jim travelled extensively, visiting all 50 states and many foreign countries, but most of all they enjoyed the presence of their large family. They hosted a Leather family reunion in Avon every summer for over 50 years. Frequent visits by their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the primary joy of their life.
Joan was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Paula (Thumann) Huebsch, and a grandson Nicholas Leather and her husband of 63 years, USMC Master Gunnery Sgt. James H. Leather in 2015.
She is survived by her children, George and Linda, Tinton Falls, Anita Leather , Lakewood, Joseph and Debra Leather, Normandy Beach, William Leather, Forked River, Patricia and John Gilburn, Manalapan, Barbara Leather, Brick and Andrew and Joan Leather, Avon-by-the-Sea. 20 grandchildren and their spouses Jennifer and her husband Kevin Stroebel, Caroline, and Michelle Leather. Christine Paladino; Danny Paladino and his wife Kriss. Patrick, Thomas and Kelly Leather. Kiersten Rice and her husband Loren, Shane Leather and his wife Alexa. Caitlin and her husband Cody Smith, Meghan and her husband Ryan Hirce, Jack Gilburn, James Gilburn and his fiance' Nicolette Naddeo, and Erin Gilburn. Lauren, Stephanie, Michael, James H. III and Andrew Jr. Leather. 7 great grandchildren Imagyn, Analise and Zander Paladino; Lucas and Sophia Rice; Christopher Leather and Caden Smith.
Visitation will be on Sunday, October 8, 2017 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall, NJ 07719 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 10:00am at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Lincoln Ave., Avon by the Sea. Private burial will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Nicholas Leather Heart 2 Heart Foundation, P.O. Box 113, Avon by the Sea, NJ 07717. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home on Sunday.
For directions or to offer online condolences to the family please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com