Joanne Margaret (Mungo) Brendel, 83, of Red Bank, formerly Holmdel, died Aug. 13, 2022. She was born June 20, 1939, in Manhattan and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens by her parents, Joseph Mungo and Eunice (Anderson) Mungo. She graduated from the State University of New York, New Paltz in 1961. She married her husband of 45 years in 1964, just a year after catching Phil’s eye during a visit to his family’s service station.
Over the next 40 years, Joanne would teach kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Lindenhurst, New York, Holmdel, Tehran, Iran, and Little Silver before retiring in 2000 to dote on a pair of new granddaughters.
Joanne loved spending time with her family, traveling the world, and living life to its limits. Her boundless love for her kids, nephews, nieces and grandchildren was evident from her tireless attendance at games and shows, while always encouraging them to be bold in their pursuits. Her “extended family” of Little Silver G&T students, borne from five-plus years together, would love Mrs. B’s predilection to say “go for it” instead of “no.” Joanne always spoke her mind, for better or worse, but those that knew her appreciated the candor and knew it was always a product of caring. She was full of love and will be sorely missed.
Joanne had a deep love for seeing the world, a passion shared by her husband and instilled in her kids by bringing them whenever possible. Be it unexpected falls into the South China Sea or having her kids stare down the mouth of Vesuvius, she embraced new cultures and experiences with gusto.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Dr. Philip Joseph Brendel, and her sister Beverly Koenig. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Philip Joseph Brendel Jr. (Nancy Munyak) of Cranbury, Eric John Brendel (Tina) of Fair Haven, and Kirsten Marie Dineen (Sean) of Wayne, Pennsylvania; and her sisters, Therese Scott of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, and Barbara Mahecha of Suffern, New York. She is also survived by her nine treasured grandchildren, MaryRose, Ana, Geoffrey, PJ, Teddy, Catie, Tommy, Samantha Margaret, and Joey, who will undoubtedly miss her unrelenting encouragement and praise.
Family and friends were invited to visit Aug. 21 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 22 at St. Anselm’s RC Church, Tinton Falls, followed by burial at St. John’s Cemetery, Queens, New York.
Memories and condolences may be shared at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the September 1 – 8, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
