Ellen "Joyce" Connell

February 1, 2022

Ellen “Joyce” Wright Connell, 86, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2022 in Wall, NJ. Joyce was born on December 3, 1935 in Elizabeth, NJ to Olive Buell and Donald Wright and was raised in Westfield, NJ, where she developed many of her life-long friendships. After graduating with her beloved Westfield High School class of 1953, she attended Carnegie Mellon University. Joyce moved with her family to Moorestown, NJ in 1967, resided there for 53 years and was deeply involved in her community. She was a member of the Moorestown Garden Club and Moorestown Historical Society, was a president of Indian Springs Questers and involved with the Questers President’s Club at the state level. She was an active and committed member of the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, serving as both Deacon and Elder. Her volunteer work through the church with Presbyterian Women, Knitting Network, the Presbytery, Circle 4 and numerous other groups was a major focus in her life and resulted in many of her closest personal relationships. Joyce worked as a travel agent for most of her adult life, enjoying both the work and the opportunity to pursue her love of exploring the world. Her wanderlust and extensive travel informed her life and inspired her children and grandchildren to prioritize travel in their own lives. Joyce was an optimist who deeply loved her family, friends and country. She was especially proud of her children, five grandchildren, brother, Dick, and sister, Lynda and spoke of their lives and accomplishments often to her many friends. She was an avid reader, a history buff, and talented in gardening, knitting and sewing. Joyce loved plants and flowers, animals (especially turtles and her pup, Macie,) Scrabble, Philadelphia and anything to do with Scotland. Joyce was predeceased by her parents and dear sister, Lynda Wright Ferrara. She is survived by her loving children, Jocelyn Graney (Robert) of Belmar, NJ and Peter Connell (Joanne) of Franklin MA, her dear brother, Richard Wright, of Nipomo, CA and her beloved grandchildren, Anna, Julia, Lara, Alexander and Abigail as well as her niece, Carin Wright and nephew, Michael Wright and a large circle of wonderful friends. Joyce’s family is extremely grateful to the staff at the Arbors and Brandywine Living at Wall for the compassionate care Joyce received during the past few years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12, at 12:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 101 Bridgeboro Rd., Moorestown, NJ. Private Interment will take place in the Presbyterian Cemetery Contributions in Joyce’s honor may be made to UrbanPromise, Camden http://www.urbanpromiseusa.org/donate or Sea Turtle Conservancy, https://conserveturtles.org/support-stc-make-a-donation-to-stc/ both charities close to her heart.