Obituary of Joan Margaret Angliss

Joan Margaret Angliss (nee Bigelow), a longtime resident of Chatham and Madison, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2018 at the Christmas Cottage Assisted Living in Hemet, CA. She was 80.

Joan was born in Morristown, NJ on August 29, 1938 to the late Mildred and Murray Bigelow. She resided in the Chatham/Madison area for most of her life before moving to California several years ago to be closer to her family. Before retiring, Joan had a long career with Ciba Pharmaceuticals as an executive assistant.

Joan was a faithful member of the Catholic Church. She will be fondly remembered for her keen intelligence, good heart, and her love of animals, especially cats. Joan spent her life advocating strongly against animal cruelty. Her cats were like children to her and she took great care of them.

Joan always took great pride in her appearance. She was known for her professionally polished nails, love of the color pink, and impeccable sense of style. Joan never forgot a family member or friend’s birthday. She would faithfully send a birthday card to each person. Joan was also known for her dry sense of humor. It was sometimes difficult to tell if she was joking or not. She enjoyed a good laugh and believed it was the best medicine.

Joan’s family would like to send a special thanks to the staff of Arbor Hospice and Christmas Cottage for their dedicated and loving care of Joan at the end of her life.

In addition to her parents, Joan was predeceased by her brother, Jack Bigelow and his wife, Georgianne, and her great-nephew, John Senior. She is survived by three nieces, Sally Hildebrandt and her husband, Jay, of Idaho Falls, ID, Donna Senior and her husband, Jeff, of La Quinta, CA, Anne Lewis and her husband, Art, of San Carlos, Mexico; one nephew, David Bigelow and his wife, Sandy, of Skull Valley, AZ; 10 great-nieces & nephews; 23 great-great nieces & nephews, cousins & close friends; and her beloved cat, Annie.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made in Joan’s memory to St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940.

Joan will be interred with her parents privately at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Madison Memorial Home.