A funeral mass took place Sept. 10 at St. Paul of the Cross R.C. Church for Joan H. Baran, 83, of Jersey City. She died peacefully on Sept. 3. She was born in Jersey City and lived there all her life. Joan was an Assistant Public Affairs Officer for U.S. Customs in New York City for 20 years retiring in 1996. She was a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and a member of the Rosary Society of St. Paul of the Cross R.C. Church in Jersey City. Joan was predeceased by her husband William in 1998 and is survived by her five children: Scott, Kevin, Wayne, Deirdre O’Brien and Pamela Kennedy; also survived by four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Services arranged by the Fallon Funeral Home, Jersey City.