Mary Joan Dickson, 82, of Brielle, N.J., died Tuesday at her home. Born in Orange, N.J., she lived there until moving briefly to Manasquan, N.J. before settling down in Brielle in 1955. Her summers were always spent at Seascape in Harthaven on Martha’s Vineyard.

Joan attended Miss Beard’s School, West Orange, now Morristown-Beard’s School, from preschool to grade 12, then went on to graduate from Vassar College in New York in 1949. She worked as a social worker for DYFS for 23 years, retiring in 1991.

She was an avid member of the Manasquan River Yacht Club where she sailed a Sailfish. Joan loved the beach and was a daily visitor to Whiting Beach in Manasquan. She was a voracious reader, loved to play bridge, and was always eager to join in on any political discussion.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Hugh, grandson Douglas Prizer Donnelly, and brother Douglas Crosby. She is survived by her daughter Debra Prizer Spering and husband Edward of Medford, N.J.; daughter Sharon Elizabeth Donnelly and husband James of Brick, N.J.; son Douglas de Keith Dickson and wife Silvana of Belmar, N.J.; and son Bruce Hugh Dickson and wife Pamela of Brielle, N.J. Also surviving are grandchildren Katie Spering Hewett and husband Greg; Tadd Spering; Wesley Donnelly and Colleen; Christopher Donnelly; Pamela Donnelly and Summer Dickson; and great-granddaughter Maya Hewett.

Visitation will be on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at The Church in Brielle at 821 Riverview avenue, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Neary-Quinn Funeral Home, 39 South street, Manasquan, N.J. is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Church in Brielle or Brielle Public Library, 610 South street Brielle, NJ 08730

For more information or to post a tribute, please visit online neary-quinnfuneralhome.com.