Joyce Willis

Joyce Willis died June 20, 2015 in Philadelphia after a long struggle with Chronic Pulmonary Lung Disease.  She was the former librarian at the Mary Jacobs Library, Rocky Hill, New Jersey, Matteson Public Library in suburban Chicago, and Trenton Public Library, Trenton, New Jersey.

She was born Joyce Lorraine Fink in Walla Walla, Washington on July 19, 1943, and grew up in Topeka, Kansas.  She graduated from Topeka High School, received a B.A. from University of Colorado and a Masters in Library Science from C.W. Post College, Long Island University.

Among her many accomplishments, she created an international design competition at Matteson Public Library in suburban Chicago and supervised the construction of the new library.  A strong advocate for public schools, Willis brought computers to Trenton school libraries.

She had a passion for social justice, sharing her love of good books and reading, and was an avid traveler.  She is survived by her children, Chanda Szczeblowski (Steve) and Jacob Willis, both of Chicago, her two granddaughters, Naomi and Violet Szczeblowski, and her sisters Hannah Fink (Martin Oppenheimer), Princeton, New Jersey and Elaine Blumenthal, Atlanta, Georgia.  Her sister Marcia predeceased her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Visiting Nurses Association of Philadelphia, the American Civil Liberties Union or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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Paul Raffiani

Paul Raffiani, 85, of West Windsor, New Jersey passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.

Born in Lodi, New Jersey he lived most of his life in Fairlawn, New Jersey before moving to West Windsor 20 years ago.

Early in his life, Paul owned and operated PJ’s Florist in Fairlawn. Subsequent to that, he began appraising and selling real estate before taking the position of Tax Assessor in Edison Township, New Jersey from 1985 until his retirement in 2005.

Mr. Raffiani was honorably discharged from the US Army after serving his country during the Korean War and successfully completing OCS.

In his leisure time, Paul enjoyed gardening, yard work and canoeing. His multiple, almost daily trips to Lowes endeared him to the many employees who would lightheartedly ask “Why don’t you become a stockholder.” A devoted Dallas Cowboy fan, he especially liked watching them play the NY Giants, with his wife, Joan, who is a NY Giants
fan. When not watching football, they enjoyed yearly trips to the beautiful island of Corsica to visit relatives and appreciate all it has to offer.

Paul was predeceased by a brother Louis Raffiani. He is survived by his wife, Joan R. Dambach Raffiani, sons Greg Raffiani, Marc, David and Anthony Centrelli, step-son Richard Dambach, eight step-grandchildren, a brother Joseph Raffiani, his beloved cat, Bella and several nieces and nephews.

Private cremation arrangements are entrusted to Kimble Funeral Home of Princeton.

Burial will be on his cherished island of Corsica at a future date.

Extend condolences and remembrances at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

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Lucia Brown Dudley

After a brief illness, Lucia Brown Dudley died peacefully on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Heron Point Community, Chestertown, Maryland, following several days of meaningful visits with her loving family and many friends including the caring staff of Heron Point.

Lucia was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 28, 1927, first child of Daniel Lucius Brown and Bettina True Brown (née Savage). She graduated from Milton Academy and at age 15 placed first in Vermont’s 100-mile horseback trail ride, a considerable feat still today. Eager for a new horizon, she attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and received a B.A in 1949 with a major in French. Over the years, Lucia traveled intrepidly touring the country and the world accompanied by family and friends. She enjoyed collecting art, “what is attractive and pleasing.” For twenty years, she summered with her parents, siblings and children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, residing in their beloved “Cable House.” Since the 1990’s, Lucia raised and trained Portuguese Water Dogs and handled her favorites, Salty and Rosie, to blue ribbons in regional and national trials and thoroughly enjoyed the lively camaraderie of her fellow dog lovers.

As a mother, Lucia was patient, generous, supportive, insightful, and always encouraged her children and grandchildren to be presentable, honorable and respectful of others. She endowed them with the virtues of fairness and service to others exemplified by her many decades of involvement in charities, churches, museums, and social service agencies. For her entire life, Lucia was a loyal friend to many and particularly devoted to long-time confidantes, Nancy Eills, Mary Rose Markowitz, the late Lucille Gaigngault and Eleanor Hoisington with whom she shared a monthly luncheon in various undisclosed locations.

Lucia is preceded in death by her husbands, William L. Lewis, H. Kempton Hastings, Frank S. Dudley, as well as sister Betsy Brown Bower. She is survived by brother Eric Brown (Lynn) of Dataw Island, South Carolina; and sister Deborah Brown Burklund of Ridgefield, Connecticut and her children: Daniel Lewis of Centreville, Maryland; Cindy Usilton (Glenn) of Tavers, Florida; Leverett Lewis (Amanda) of Sebastian, Florida; Diana Abbott (Mark) of Northfield, Minnesota; Brewster Hastings (Pamela) of Abington, Pennsylvania; and Eric Hastings of Duluth, Minnesota; and eight grandchildren (Amity, Grace, Alexander, Sarah, Christopher, Sophia, Maegan, Max) as well as five stepchildren; Clark Hastings, Neil Hastings, Peter Dudley, Wick Dudley and Clay Dudley Evans and their families.

A Liturgy of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Centerville, Maryland, on Monday, July, 13, 2015 at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. The family suggests memorial donations be given to Crossroads Community for Mental Health, 120 Banjo Lane, Centreville, MD, 21617.