Anna Joback

Mrs. Anna Michalek Joback, 97, entered the Lord’s kingdom, escorted by His heavenly angels on Saturday, December 20, 2025, surrounded by the love and care of her family.

On Saturday, December 27th, at 9:45AM, family and friends are asked to gather directly at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Linden where a funeral mass will be offered at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Mrs. Joback’s entombment in the family crypt in Rosedale Cemetery , Linden.

Anna, the daughter of the late Maria Kokszka Michalek and the late Szczepan Michalek was born in Lukawiec, Poland.  The youngest sibling of 4 older brothers, Anna left her entire family and her home country behind and took a leap of faith by coming to the United States; arriving at the Port of New York in January 1960 on the SS America.  

She crossed the Atlantic on an ocean liner to a world far different than the one she left behind.  She married her late husband, Frank Joback, on February 27, 1960, and together they began building a life and their new family in Linden, New Jersey.    

Instilled with a driving work ethic, Anna was employed at various companies throughout her career, a majority of which was spent as a machine operator for Gibson Associates in Cranford, a plastic molding company.

For Catholics, marriage is a covenant.  When Anna's husband became chronically ill in 1971, it was only 11 years into her marriage.  She became the family breadwinner, and with the Lord's grace, they were able to experience many happy times despite the constant challenges and even existential struggles that life would bring.  They remained devoted to each other until Frank's death at age 67 - on nearly to the same date as her own 36 years later.  Her leap of faith was not likely how she had envisioned it.

Outside of work, Anna’s focus was always on her family.  She and her husband, Frank would sponsor many friends and acquaintances from Poland to come to this country, often finding them places to both live and work.  She also made sure that they were welcomed in her home, having dinner parties for everyone to attend, share a great meal, catch up on what was going on with their extended families in Poland or share memories of earlier times spent together.  Christmas Eve was awash in  Polish custom or Wigilia and it was always held in her home.  Anna relished in cooking up her traditional Polish recipes, often preparing enough food to feed an army.  She enjoyed keeping a garden and Anna’s commitment to her church and her faith was strong and foremost in her life.  She was a longtime communicant of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Linden, where she was a proud member of their choir, offering her voice in song as the highest praise to her Lord and Savior.

Anna was predeceased by her husband, Frank Joback on December 17, 1989.  She is survived by her loving son, Edward F. Joback; Frank's large extended family, her neighbors and Anna’s extensive network of caretakers.

Anna was the center of life for her family.  Even as life often throws us curves that alter the journey, Anna persevered and continuously looked forward with a smile on her face that illuminated the light in her baby blue eyes.  She had an abundance of love for everyone in her circle.  Anna was the last of her generation to leave us, but we know that there was a multitude of Anna’s family and friends who went beforehand, now greeting her and saying, “Welcome Home”!  Anna will be deeply missed, but she will never be forgotten.  May she rest in Eternal Peace.

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