DARTMOUTH — Joan (Rodman) Reed of South Dartmouth passed away on Friday, June 8, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital. She was 81.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Doris (Acheson) Rodman. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School and Bridgewater State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She taught in New Bedford, Milton and Dartmouth school districts over the years.
Joan is the widow of Richard A. Reed. Together they owned Reed’s Apothecary in Padanaram where she was the bookkeeper. After Reed’s Apothecary closed, she worked as a pharmacy tech at the Medicine Shoppe in New Bedford for 17 years. She was involved in the 20/30 Club and ECW at Grace Episcopal Church, the Bristol County and MA Teacher’s Association, and the New Bedford High School Alumni Reunion Committee.
Her son, Jonathan Rodman Reed of Boston, who died unexpectedly in Boston on May 27, 2018, preceded Joan in death. Jonathan was 52. Jonathan was a graduate of Dartmouth High School. He attended University of Rhode Island and graduated from UMass of Dartmouth (formerly SMU) with a degree in marketing. He worked for a while at Bombay Company after graduation. For the past several years, he was a server at Mare Oyster Bar in the North End of Boston. Previously he had worked at Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Frank’s Steak House, Masa and Bertucci’s.
Joan leaves behind her longtime companion, Dr. Charles Tavares of Mattapoisett. Their family survives Joan and Jonathan: daughter/sister Elizabeth “Beth” (Reed) Solomon, her husband Randy Solomon and their children Allison and Jason of Frisco, TX. Joan was the sister of the late Jean (Rodman) St. Germain of South Dartmouth and is survived by her nieces Betsey White and Polly Killion along with her husband Jack Killion. Joan was the sister-in-law to William Reed and the late Martha (Shaw) Reed of North Dartmouth. She is survived by her nieces and nephews Andrew Reed, Christopher Reed and his wife Paige, Amy Reed and her wife Amanda (Bachelder), and Timothy Reed, along with many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
A joint Celebration of Life Service for Joan and Jonathan will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 County Street, New Bedford. Remembrances in their names may be made to a charity organization of your choice or to the Grace Episcopal Church Restoration Fund, 133 School Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
Burial is private at Padanaram Cemetery in South Dartmouth. Arrangements are by the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford, MA. Wilsonchapel.net