Joan C (Orbeton) Howard 72, of Brockton, died March 13, 2012. She was born in Brockton to the late Ivan and Inez (Eldridge) Orbeton and was raised and educated in Avon. For a period of time she and her family lived in New York before moving to Brockton where she raised her six children. Joan will be remembered for her wry sense of humor, her zest for life, time spent with her children and grandchildren and playing cards or a good game of bingo. Joan was a longtime member of the Polish White Eagles Club in Brockton.
She was the wife of the late Lawrence Howard and is survived by her children; Deborah Sylvia, Glenn, Dale and Gordon Hammond all of Brockton and Rhonda Briscoe of Hanson and a stepson Dennis Howard of Spencer. Joan was also mother to the late Douglas Hammond and sister of the late Ruth Melendy and Richard Orbeton. She is survived by 16 grand and 3 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton Friday 4-8pm followed by a funeral home service Saturday at 11:30am. Cremation will follow and burial will take place at a later date in the Melrose Cemetery, Brockton. In memory of Joan memorial donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168.