Joan Margaret (Lonergan) Walsh, 86 of East Bridgewater, formally a long-time resident of Whitman entered eternal life on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, William J. Walsh, Sr., and her children William J. Walsh Jr. and his wife Kellie of Cape Cod, Cheryl (Walsh) Provost and husband William of Whitman, Beth (Walsh) Blinn and her husband Thomas of East Bridgewater, Mary Walsh of Abington, David Walsh and his wife Laura of Marshfield, and her beloved sister Mary Ann Galbraith of Connecticut. She is predeceased by her loving son Cullen Walsh (Meredith Walsh) of Connecticut, brothers Thomas Lonergan of Weston, Farrell Lonergan of New York, and Lawrence Lonergan of New Mexico. She leaves behind several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Joan was born in New Haven, CT. on November 2, 1936 to Ruth Ann (Flynn) Lonergan, and John Lawrence Lonergan.
After graduating from high school, she attended Nursing School for a short time, and then worked for the Southern New England Telephone company in New Haven, CT. Joan eventually moved to Massachusetts with her family, where she met her husband, and they settled in Whitman to raise their family.
While Joan devoted most of her time to her family, once her children were older, she took on a job as a Title I Reading para-professional for the Holt Elementary School, which she loved.
Joan was a devoted member of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality at Holy Ghost Church for 60 years and volunteered for several different church ministries including CCD teacher, CYO leader, Cuniff Pine Street Inn, and served as a Pastoral Minister at Brockton Hospital. In addition, she volunteered as a Brownie/Girl Scout leader, and was a member of the Mothers Guild at BC High.
She also enjoyed participating in the Divine Mercy Chaplet held on Tuesday evenings at Holy Ghost Church. Joan enjoyed taking dancing lessons with her husband, and they spent many nights dancing at the Canoe Club and other venues. Joan loved her garden, and had mastered the art of growing roses and hydrangeas, among a few of the beautiful flowers seen on their property. Her biggest joy was spending time with family. She was always planning parties for family and friends, as was evident if you ever got a glimpse of her calendar.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, July 7, from 4:00-7:00 PM, in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel (Rte.58 @ the rotary) Whitman. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services on Saturday, July 8, at 9:45 AM in the funeral chapel, followed by a funeral mass at Holy Ghost Church, Whitman, at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Pine St Inn, Boston, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.