Joy Ann (Zengel) Mina, age 77 years, of Kingwood Township, NJ, died peacefully on Friday, March 5, 2021 at home, surrounded by her loving family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice as a result of complications related to cancer.

Joy was born at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was the daughter of the late John and Margaret Zengel.

Joy’s early years were spent living on the family farm in Secaucus, NJ where her family raised pigs. She started first grade at Lincoln Public School but transferred to Immaculate Conception once the new school was built. This was her family parish and where she would receive her first communion.

In 1951, at the age of 7, the Zengel family moved their pig farm from Secaucus to Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, NJ. Here, they would tend to their cows, pigs, chickens, and fields. While she spent her childhood completing chores on the farm, she loved sharing stories about how she and the other kids would play in the creek, woods, and pond.

Joy attended Hunterdon Central Regional High School, graduating in 1961. During her high school years, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family as well as ice skating and roller skating. After high school, Joy would go on to work at the hospital in Flemington and also at Standard Pressed Steel.

With her father both working at Johns Manville and maintaining the family farm, Joy took on the responsibility of caring for her brothers and sisters. Whether it be a trip to the doctor, clothes shopping, or an outing for ice cream, she was always there for them. Even though they jokingly referred to her as “sarge,” the term was said with love, and her siblings have often described her as a “second mom” to them.

At the age of 19, while Joy was at the Flemington Fair, she met the love of her life, Albert Mina. Al’s family owned Flemington Floral, and it was there that Joy discovered her love of flowers which would eventually take her through many floral careers. After dating for a year, Joy and Al were married at St. Agnes’s Church in Stockton, NJ by Reverend William Hewitt on October 3, 1964 and afterwards resided in Flemington.

Four years later, Joy and Al moved to their current family home in Kingwood Township, NJ. In 1976, they welcomed Grace Ann Marie, and Vincent Nicholas followed in 1983. Both children were baptized by Father Nestor of Our Lady of Victories Church—their family’s parish of over 50 years.

Joy and Al were loving parents to their own children and grandchildren, Joy’s younger brothers and sisters, and all their nieces and nephews. Family vacations often centered around Long Beach Island and included day trips to amusement parks, kite flying, and family picnics. Joy and Al also took Grace and Nick to Walt Disney World, which they still think back on with fond memories.

Caring for children and others came easily to Joy, and this led her to babysitting. The children that she watched, the neighborhood kids, as well as many of her children’s friends call her “Momma Joy” to this day. Joy was the epitome of a mother to many, and family meant everything to her.

For decades, Joy was active in her community and church. She was a CCD teacher at St. Agnes as well as Our Lady of Victories. She promoted the spiritual foundation of many of the children by helping guide them through their sacraments of first reconciliation and communion.

Over the years, Joy returned to her love of flowers across many careers. Joy and Al owned Rose’s Country Florist in Flemington in the 1980s, and, more recently, Joy worked at Mae’s Floral Shop in Flemington as well as Cottage Garden Florist in Milford.

In 2009, Joy heard the words that no one wants to hear: “you have cancer.” Since then, Joy fought the disease with determination. Throughout her battles, no matter how exhausting or painful, Joy would always put others above herself. From asking her visitors about their lives, to inviting them for their fill of Saturday night spaghetti and meatballs, she was selfless in making sure her loved ones were okay. Joy’s perseverance and kindness were an inspiration to everyone who was lucky enough to meet her.

Momma Joy’s door was always open to her friends and family. There would always be a cup of coffee and donuts available and, of course, a sympathetic ear. Joy loved her Sister-Lunches and yearly gathering when the sisters would make grave blankets for the family graves. Joy was also a master bow maker.

Above all else, Joy loved being a grandmother. Elizabeth and Jack were the center of her universe and were able to experience the unconditional love that Joy showered upon them. Joy retired from working at the flower shop to care for them when they were young. She would take them to the park, do crafts, play games, and treat them to many of her famous home cooked dinners. While Joy loved her whole family, the sun rose and set over Liz and Jack.

Joy is predeceased by her beloved parents, John and Margaret Zengel, her brother (#5) Frank Zengel, brother-in-law John Gromlowicz, and members of the extended Zengel family.

Joy is survived by her husband of 56 years, Albert Mina, of Kingwood Township, NJ; her daughter Grace Ann Mina and Grace’s partner Harry Kerr of Raritan Township, NJ; her son Nicholas Mina and Nicholas’s partner Randolph Mitchell of Ewing Township, NJ; and her beloved grandchildren Elizabeth & Jack Hitchcock, of Raritan Township, NJ.

Joy was the third of ten siblings and is survived by her loving brothers, sisters, and extended family:

• #1: Peggy and Bob Fasanello, Sister & Brother-in-law, Bath, PA
• #2: John & Sandy Zengel – Brother & Sister-in-law, Phillipsburg, NJ
• #4: Donald & Joy Zengel, – Brother & Sister-in-law Martinsburg, PA
• #5: Linda Zengel, wife of brother Frank Zengel, Sister-in-law, Stockton, NJ
• #6: Linda & Frank Yasunas, Sister & Brother-in-law, Stockton, NJ
• #7: Annie Gromlowicz, Sister, Oxford, NY
• #8: Marie Zengel & Maggie DeVine – Sister & Sister-in-law, Frenchtown, NJ
• #9: Tom & Ellen Zengel, Brother & Sister-in-law High Bridge, NJ
• #10: Rachel and Mike Nichols, Sister & Brother-in-law, Phillipsburg, NJ
• 27 nieces and nephews, and many, many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Rev. Kris Kaczynski will be celebrated on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Victories Parish, 1007 County Road 519, Baptistown, NJ (Frenchtown, NJ mailing). Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the church beginning at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Following mass, Joy will be laid to rest in the family plot at Rosemont Cemetery, Route 519, Rosemont, NJ.

It is important to remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home, church, and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at each location. It is also requested that you remember that only a certain number of people are allowed in the funeral home at any given time, so please remain cognizant of your time spent with the family so that others may express their love and support as well.

You are encouraged to visit Joy’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Hunterdon Hospice, 215 NJ-31, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE (please select Hunterdon Hospice).

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”