Joanne ""Jody"" Abrams, 76, of Cream Ridge entered into God's loving embrace on Monday, June 14, 2010 at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Hospital, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Wendell, Idaho, daughter of the late Rex and Dorothy (Reed) Schiferl, Jody was raised in Pleasantville, NJ. Before moving to Hamilton Square, 54 years ago, with her husband Bob, and subsequently settling in Cream Ridge ten years later.

Jody is predeceased by her brother, Richard Schiferl. Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Robert (Bob) Abrams; one daughter, Sherry Springsteen and her husband Ron Springsteen of New Egypt; one son, Gary Rex Abrams of Cream Ridge; sister-in-law Ceil Sochocki, her husband, Leonard Sochocki of Toms River; niece Linda Reed and her husband Jim Reed and their children of Toms River; niece Linda Huss and her husband Bill Huss and their children of Toms River. Jody is also survived by her dear, childhood friends, Shirley (Ford) Payne of May's Landing and Patricia (Gilday) Moore of May's Landing who acted as Jody's maid of honor and bridesmaid, respectively.

Jody loved and enjoyed spending time together at Doll shows and trips to Europe with her good friends Leo and Marian Mahoney. She also loved and enjoyed her time spent with good friend, Ellen Campbell, previously of Allentown. Jody is also survived by aunts and cousins who reside in the western states of Utah, Idaho and California.

Settling in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township totally changed Jody's previous lifestyle from a stay-at-home mom to getting involved with her children in the country setting of her new community. One of her first accomplishments was as one of the founders and organizers of the anti-drug abuse program ""Does Anybody Care"" (D.A.C.) which between 1974 and 1980 provided teenagers from both Allentown and Upper Freehold activities such as monthly dances, roller skating parties and social outings. Those youngsters, as adults today, still greet and remind Jody of the influence she had over their lives.

In the 1970's, Jody became a member of ""The Villagers of Allentown"" and also was one of that groups earliest presidents. The late Mrs. Lillian Ely introduced Jody to the fine art of crafting porcelain birds and the firing and painting associated with this delicate art. It was at this time that Jody entered into the new world of porcelain doll making, which she would do over the next 40 years. Her talent in creating delicately fashioned bisque dolls elevated her to the premier status of international doll artists and collector of antique dolls. Through her God-given talent, Jody provided hundreds of her own collections to doll collector's worldwide. Jody's interest in doll collecting helped her create ""The Delaware Valley Doll Club"" of which Jody became one of that group's founding presidents. Doll-collecting has now become the leading hobby worldwide. Jody, together with her husband, Bob, guided over 20 groups of 30 doll and antique minded people in early pilgrimages to doll and antique shows in England, France and Belgium. Jody will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to gratefully acknowledge the Capital Health System Doctors and Nurses in Trenton and the Compassionate Care Personnel at St. Francis Hospital for their loving care in her final weeks and days.

Funeral service will be held 11 am Thursday at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St. Allentown. Interment will follow in Cream Ridge Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday from 6-9pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.