Kathleen T. (Joyce) Nerbonne died August 19th, after living many years with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Brockton, MA in 1929, the youngest of Margaret and John Joyce’s four daughters, Kathy was a proud graduate of St. Patrick’s High School, class of 1947. Determined to be a teacher, she was the first in her family to attend college. Kathy graduated from Bridgewater State and began her teaching career in Brockton in 1953.
Kathy loved people, especially little ones, and cherished her many years of teaching in Catholic schools—at St. Edward’s (Brockton), Sacred Heart (Weymouth), and Holy Name (West Roxbury). She was most proud of her faith, her Irish heritage and of inspiring children to enjoy reading, to feel confident and to treat fellow classmates with respect. She loved any get-together/cookout with family and friends, especially those where Irish music and singing were involved, heart-to-heart conversations, family trips to the beach, helping anyone in need, the color green. She encouraged her students as well as her own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, to pursue education for its own sake and to share their love of learning with others.
In addition to her beloved parents, Kathy was predeceased by her sisters, Mary McGrath, Rita Diamond and Margaret Joyce. She is survived by her seven children: John Nerbonne (Ellen) of Teningen, Germany, Jeanne Nerbonne (Andreas Burkhalter) of St. Louis, Mary Nerbonne (Jim Ligas) of West Hartford, Dan Nerbonne (Peggy) of Houston, Michael Nerbonne of Needham, Susan Mahoney of Westborough, Paul Nerbonne (Kasanu Patthanadettrakul) of Los Angeles; twelve grandchildren: Juleen, Chris, Matt, Andrea, Eamon and Brendan Nerbonne, Nicholas and Doug Horan, Maria Burkhalter, Arty, Maggie and Ian Mahoney, as well as ten great-grandchildren: Alaina, Noelle, Emily, Collin, Lincoln, Amelia, Evelyn, Emilie, Wendel and Vienne (who just arrived!); her devoted sister- and brother-in-law, Mary and David Hern of Brockton; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, especially John Horan. The family is grateful to those dedicated caregivers at Atria Hamilton Heights and St. Mary Home who treated Kathy with respect and affection.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday September 8, 2017 at the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont St. (rte. 123), Brockton, MA. The funeral procession will gather at the funeral home Saturday at 9am for a funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, Brockton at 10am, burial to follow at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery in Bridgewater. Kathy’s was a life devoted to children, her own and the many students whose lives she touched in her 30+-year teaching career. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kathleen Joyce Nerbonne ’52 Teacher’s Scholarship at Bridgewater State University (P.O. Box 42, Bridgewater, MA 02324 (or call 508-531-2100/6148 at BSU), or an educational/children’s charity of your choice.