Joan Cara Lyons, of Dumont, passed away surrounded by her loving family on September 1, 2024, at the age of 60. Joan was an incredibly caring, creative, and kind-hearted person who brought joy to everyone who had the great pleasure of knowing her. 

Joan attended Immaculate Heart Academy for high school and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Joan’s life was defined by her boundless love for her family and friends, her passion for creativity, and her deep commitment to helping others. She loved to dance, play tennis, and garden, continually staying active and engaged. Joan had a special talent for all things art/creative—she enjoyed scrapbooking, painting, sewing, knitting, and quilting. She was known for creating baby hats and blankets, clothes, and homemade gifts for family and friends. Her creativity was at the forefront of everything that she did.

Joan was truly the glue that held her family and friends together. She was the person you could turn to for a listening ear, a comforting meal, or an uplifting conversation. Joan had an extraordinary ability to connect with people, making everyone feel welcome and loved. Her community involvement reflected her selflessness: she served as a Sunday School catechist at St. Mary’s Church in Dumont for over 15 years, participated in the Rosary Altar Society, and contributed to the Dixon Homestead Library clubs, including knitting and the cookbook club.

Joan was a dedicated Girl Scout Leader for over 10 years, guiding her daughter to earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. She also played a significant role in her son's involvement with the Boy Scouts, helping him achieve his Eagle Scout Award. Joan would do anything to support her children, always encouraging their ambitions and providing them with the guidance and love they needed to succeed.

Joan had a deep love for animals, especially her beloved family dog, Oliver. She cherished the time spent on vacations with her family, particularly at their family home in Southampton, where her summers were filled with trips to the beach, boating, crabbing, and enjoying family traditions. Joan's love for baking was well-known, and she took pride in making Italian fig cookies, Armenian Choreg and Boereg, and her famous cream puffs for special occasions. She was thoughtful enough to send holiday cookies to friends and family, ensuring they felt connected, no matter the distance.

She faithfully made sure to keep family traditions alive, passing on her heritage through her cooking/baking and teaching her children the importance of family.

Predeceased by her loving mother Pauline Pekmezian, Joan is survived by her beloved husband Jeffrey Lyons, her cherished children Cara Large (husband Andrew) and Andrew Lyons, her devoted father Ara Pekmezian, and her dear brother Gregg Pekmezian. Joan was also the adored Aunt of Lisa (husband Alvin), Jennifer (husband Adam), Thomas, Christopher, and Charles. Cherished cousin to Louis, John, Paul, Matt, Sal, and Paula, who was like a sister to her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Mary’s Church, 280 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ, on Saturday, September 7th at 9:30 AM. A burial of her ashes will follow at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, 36 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the family for a memorial in Joan’s name, which will be decided at a later date.

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