Meet the Executive Committee - 2023-2024

 Maria lived in Newark and Cedar Grove. She worked in the Finance Department of the City of Newark as Manager of the Accounts Payable Department.  While working there she served as President of The Newark Municipal Careerwomen, raising funds to support the needs of the community.  She also served as President of Essex Council #1 of the New Jersey Civil Service Association.  She married Leonard F. Kowalewski, a Lieutenant of Police with the Newark P.D. They moved to Forked River in 1985.  She retired from Newark in 1987.  From 1987-1990 she worked as a full-time agent for Century 21 Real Estate achieving the rank of Million Dollar Sales Associate.  She attended Ocean County College and obtained an Associate in Applied Science as a Legal Assistant graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was initiated into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She worked as a Paralegal for the Ocean County Surrogate's Court from 1990 until her retirement in 2016. She joined the Women's Club of Lacey in 2019.  She served as Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and First V.P. She has one daughter, Karen Walther and one granddaughter, Michelle. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, playing Mah Jongg, Bunco & Canasta. She is a member of St. Pius X Church and volunteers once a week in their Samaritan's Food Pantry.    

 Karen moved to Lacey in 1997 with her husband, Jack and son Michael. She taught third and fourth grade at Lanoka Harbor School for 23 years before retiring in 2023. Prior to teaching in Lacey, Karen spent eight years working in the Student Activities Office at Rutgers University.  Soon after retiring, Karen joined the Lacey Women’s Club. The first position which she held in the Lacey Women.’s Club was that of scholarship chair. Karen has found that very rewarding because the club was able to further help students with financing their education. In the spring of 2026 Karen became the first vice president of the Lacey Women’s Club.  Karen finds that her experiences within the women’s club are quite rewarding and looks forward to becoming a more active participant in her new role. 

Jo moved to Lacey Township in 1988 with her husband Bill and three children.  In 1990 she went to work at Community Medical Center and retired from the Information & Technology Department as a Physician Analyst in 2013. It was after retirement she joined the Woman's Club of Lacey and has been active in many departments and fundraising events. 

In addition to her role as 2nd. V.P. she also chairs the Communications Dept. and manages club email correspondence, social media, advertising  and the club’s website. She is active in the Civic Engagement & Outreach Dept. and chairs Wreaths Across America.  Jo also volunteers with the N.J. Sharing Network and the Wrapped in Love program.  She is a strong proponent of organ and tissue donation.  

She enjoys traveling, a good book, the theater, walking and exercising.   She also enjoys playing Mah Jongg and cards with her many friends from the WCL and her friends and neighbors at Pheasant Run.  She has 4 grandchildren in town and enjoys spending time with her family. 

"I enjoy being part of the Woman's Club and all the lovely women that are part of it".   

Carol, originally from North Bergen, moved to Forked River in 1976.  She & her husband raised two children & have four grandchildren.  She was a certified medical assistant for 23 years working for a urologist In Toms River.  At that time, she volunteered for Reach to Recovery, American Cancer Society.

Upon retiring, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.  She has been volunteering for many years at Interfaith in Manahawkin and St. Pius Samaritans food pantry.  Carol joined the

Woman's Club in 2017 and has been chairperson for International Outreach and Advocates for

Children's Operation Smile.

Sandy is originally from Passaic County, and moved to Lanoka Harbor in 1977. She raised two children. A son, Jim, who lives in France with his 5 dogs and a daughter, Kristin, who lives in Denver with her husband and her 2 precious grandchildren, William 12 and Caroline 9.

Sandy was an elementary school teacher in Lakewood for 13 years.  The next 17 years, she was principal of Land O’Pines School in Howell before retiring in 2016.

She joined the Women’s Club of Lacey in 2017 and volunteered at Providence House until 2021. 

Sandy has traveled to 9 countries, loves spending time with family and friends, is an avid reader and loves to cook.

Jackie was born and raised in the Vailsburg section of Newark until 1972 when she and her parents moved to Hazlet NJ.

After graduating from Brookdale College in 1974, she worked in NYC as an executive secretary at BBDO, a large ad agency on Madison Ave.  Discovering her love of travel, she went to a travel school and became a corporate travel agent from 1979 until 2002.

She lived on the upper East Side of NYC from 1976 until 2000. Wanting open space and more living room, she bought a townhouse in Long Branch. She continued commuting to NYC by ferry where she met her husband, Terry.

After 9/11, she left her job in NYC and became a surgery scheduler at the Lakewood Surgery Center working for a team of orthopedic surgeons from 2005 until 2020.

Never having her own children, Jackie has 2 step children  and 3 young grandchildren. 

After becoming a widow in 2018 she was looking to make new friends and give back to the community.   She joined the Woman's Club in 2023 joining the Domestic Violence  Committee. In 2024 became chairwoman for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Jackie enjoys traveling, exercise, going to the city, museums and theatre.

 Joan was born in Philadelphia and moved to the Jersey Shore at the age of twelve.  Although she was not born on the Jersey Shore,  she considers herself a "Jersey Girl" since she spent her childhood years at her grandparents’ homes in  Ocean Gate and Wildwood.  She is a long-time resident of Ocean County and moved to her home  in Lacey in 1996. 

Joan joined the Woman’s Club in 2018 in the hopes of finding a  new meaningful activity and friends to fill her void hours upon her twin grandchildren starting  kindergarten.  “I am pleased to say that I did.”   She became active immediately in the Arts Creative Department,  and in 2019, with the encouragement of past president Lori Vircillo, Joan took on the role of preparing and publishing the Club's Newsletter.  That same year she became the  Club’s Treasurer.  She is a member of Lacey United Methodist Church and volunteers at their thrift  shop, Joy of Angels. 

"Being part of the Woman’s Club has filled my life with many happy  memorable hours. But, my most enjoyable hours are spent with Dave, my significant other, 3  children and 6 wonderful grandchildren. I am so blessed!" 

Dawn is originally from Toms River, her and her husband moved to Forked River in 1995. Together they have 4 children, and 6 grandchildren. Over the years she has worked in various fields; as a nursing assistant working in Crystal Lake Care Center, a Para-Professional with the Lacey Schools District and currently as Broker-Salesperson with Weichert, Realtors.

She joined the Woman’s Club in 2023 to be surrounded by like-minded women, and to give back to the community. 

She immediately volunteered to be the chairperson for the nursing home committee.  She also volunteers with the Lacey Food Bank, and is a sponsor/volunteer for Lacey Girls Softball.  In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, exercising, and traveling with her husband. 

 Lori moved to Lanoka Harbor in 1984 from New Hampshire when her husband Greg took a job at the power plant. She and Greg raised one daughter in Lacey.  She is a retired teacher and curriculum director for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School district.  She joined the Woman's Club in 2018 to meet new friends and give back to the community. Lori served as recording secretary from 2022-2024 and president from 2024-2026.  She enjoys all needle arts, playing mah jongg, yoga and walking, reading, and spending time with her two grandsons.