Obituary of Joyce Lazar
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Joyce “Japke Meersma” Lazar passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at Sunrise of Morris Plains.
Born in Kollum, Netherlands, and raised in Kroningen, Joyce had to grow up fast living through World War II in war torn Kroningen, Netherlands. Born to the late Hendrik and Aafke Meersma-Sjaarda, she was one of 12 children. She lost two of her brothers in WWII. At 18, she enrolled as a member of the Dutch Army Elite Core where she served Military elite officers for two years. Following her Army service, she moved to Switzerland, relocating to Lausanne where she lived for eight years. While in Lausanne, she worked as a Nurse’s Aide. In 1959, Joyce immigrated to the United States. She started her career as an assistant to the actress Arlene Doll, served as a Governess in Scarsdale and eventually became a Medical Transcriptionist at Rockefeller Medical Center. In 1960, she met her soulmate, Hugh Francis Lazar, while vacationing with friends in the Poconos, and after 3 months of dating, they were married. They started their family in August of 1961 and raised their two daughters in Lake Parsippany until 1968. They then resided in Boonton Twp. for over 23 years. She became a naturalized US Citizen in 1965. Joyce was a very active community and hospital volunteer, later doing bookkeeping work when her family was grown. She was an exceptional woman, wife, and unconventional mother who will be sorely missed.
Left to keep her legacy alive are her beloved daughters, Natalie Robin Kiefer and husband (beloved son-in-law) Jacob W. Kiefer of Boonton Twp., NJ and Michele Lazar of St. Louis, MO; her cherished grandchildren, Dr. Jacob Kiefer DVM with his fiancé Erin Stahl and granddaughter Jacqueline Kiefer; and many other extended family and friends. Not to forget her beloved caretakers at Sunrise & Compassionate Care (Adlin).
Memorial Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 31st from 6-8 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville, NJ 07834. Funeral Service will take place at 7:30 pm. Memorial Donations can be made in Joyce’s memory to Compassionate Care Hospice by way of www.inmemoryof-memorial.org. Please leave a condolence for her family.
