Joanmarie Teresa (Lyons) Hapeman passed away May 29, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.
Joanmarie was born March 2, 1941, in Brooklyn to Mary and John Lyons. Fond memories of her childhood in Park Slope include spending time with her family, friends and Irish community, ice skating in Central Park and enjoying summers with family in Massachusetts.
Joanmarie attended Saint Saviour High School in Brooklyn, where she was editor of both the school’s newspaper and yearbook and a member of the basketball team. Quite studious, she graduated top of her class in 1959 before going on to study geometry at Notre Dame College for two years. During this time, she met Ray Hapeman, who was on leave from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Joanmarie and Ray were married Dec. 31, 1960, at West Point, following Ray’s graduation. While stationed in Germany, she and Ray had three children, Eleanor, Teresa and Chris. After four years abroad, Joanmarie and Ray returned home to raise their family in one place, a goal they achieved, having never left their “temporary” house after calling it home in 1966.
Encouraged by Ray to continue her education, Joanmarie decided to study nursing at Brookdale Community College, graduating in 1976. Following graduation, she began working at Riverview Hospital. Joanmarie found her way to Riverview’s PACU nursing team, where she stayed for 30 years with beloved coworkers who became a second family.
Joanmarie and Ray traveled extensively, reaching all 50 states and destinations around the globe, with memorable trips to Australia, Japan, Alaska, Germany, Ireland and France. Never one to sit still, Joanmarie was always on the go or elbow deep in a knitting, calligraphy or new craft project. She loved fresh flowers, a good novel, life-long friends, Christmastime, the Yankees and all her family home safe and sound.
As a grandparent, Joanmarie’s favorite gift to her family was bringing everyone together for an annual Long Beach Island summer beach vacation. Above all else, she cherished her family, so it brought her particular joy when her grandchildren spent time together. She loved celebrating her family’s accomplishments; every graduation, wedding, birthday, soccer, volleyball, baseball and lacrosse game, stage play, horse show, dance recital, and announcement, big or small, on the family group chat brought her tremendous pride.
Joanmarie is loved and missed by her three children, Eleanor (Charles), Teresa and Chris; eight grandchildren, Charles (Ellen), Conor, Corey (Tierney), Colin (Julia), Amanda (Matt), Brian, Ainsley and Tessa; and five great-grandchildren, Clara, Samuel, Charles, Blaire and Hazel; along with her extended family of in-laws, cousins and dear friends. Joanmarie was predeceased by her husband, Ray, her parents, Mary and John, and her sisters, Jinny and Eleanor.
A funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. July 23 Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, followed immediately by a burial at West Point Cemetery and repast.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made for the life-changing cardiac work being done at Jersey Shore Medical Center at givehmh.org/JerseyShore, or by mail to Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, 1 Wellbrook Place, 7th Floor Gift Processing, Iselin, NJ 08830. Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Joanmarie Hapeman and for Cardiac Services.
The article originally appeared in the July 16 – 22, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
