Mary Joan (Manning) Driscoll (78), passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home in Taunton on December 26, 2018 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Mary Joan was born in North Dighton to the late Russell V. Manning and the late Mary A. (Dwyer) Manning. A lifelong resident of Taunton, she was educated in the Taunton Public Schools and graduated from Taunton High School in 1958. She also attended the Plus School of Business. Throughout her life, Mary Joan held a variety of retail and clerical positions, but she was primarily a homemaker. She married her childhood sweetheart and because he was in the United States Army, they had an extended honeymoon in Heidelberg, Germany where he was stationed. Mary Joan enjoyed genealogy, photography, hunting for collectibles at yard sales, the Old Colony History Museum, all things Irish, shopping on QVC, and her never-ending quest for the perfect lobster roll. She had an adventurous spirit and took classes in a variety of areas, including piano, guitar, cake decorating, and furniture refinishing. Mary Joan also dedicated much of her life to helping others. She spent many years caring for her older relatives, including her parents and aunts and uncles. She was also a hospice volunteer. Mary Joan was a devoted member of the Catholic faith and enjoyed attending Mass every Sunday. Above all, her greatest joy was being a grandmother, and she never missed attending an academic, dance, or athletic event.
Mary Joan is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of 58 years, David Driscoll, her daughter Jane Cushing and her husband Edward Cushing of Taunton, MA, her son David Driscoll and his wife Beth Driscoll of Wrentham, MA and her adored grandchildren Tess Cushing, Casey Driscoll, and Aidan Driscoll. She also leaves behind her siblings: Eleanor Kelleher and her husband Jim Kelleher of Bethesda, MD, Patricia Phillipe and her husband John Phillipe of St. Louis, MO, Thomas Manning and his wife Elizabeth Manning of Yarmouth Port, MA, Russell Manning and wife his Wendy Manning of Yarmouth, MA, Kevin Manning of Bridgewater, MA, and Susan Manning and her husband James Paterson of Cambridge, MA. Mary Joan was also the devoted aunt of many nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at O'Keefe Wade Funeral Home at 9 am on Monday, December 31st followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, 19 Kilmer Ave. in Taunton, MA at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Joan's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. Visit our website www.okeefewade.com to sign the online guestbook, obituaries & directions.