Joanne King “Mama Jo”, 68 (July 6, 1956)
Joanne (Barnes) King, of South Boston passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving and adoring family after a long hard-fought battle with cancer on September 13, 2024.
Joanne worked many years as a BPD Crossing Guard on Stuart Street at the Boston Renaissance Charter School, as well as an Usher for Boston Opera House where she always greeted you with a beautiful smile, friendly conversation, and probably a seat upgrade!
She enjoyed spending time with friends & family singing Karaoke, camping at Ellis Haven, gambling at the casinos, playing Keno, cruising to Bermuda and of course her love of Bingo, Butts, & Bud Lights! Everyone that has ever met her would say she is the absolute life of the party, and if there was no party, she sure as heck would start one! Her sense of humor was simply unmatched along with her love for pranks! She was a professional and no one was off limits.
Although those things gave her pleasure, in her past time her ultimate love & enjoyment came from raising and spending time with her children & grandchildren! A mother's love knows no boundaries, no limitations, and no conditions and that speaks to exactly who our mom was and how she lived every day. Her love and pride for her children and grandchildren was insurmountable. She would take every chance she got to brag about each and every one of us and to tell us she Loved Us More! She was our rock, cheerleader, best friend and the beloved matriarch to 7 children, 21 grandchildren & 6 great grandchildren who absolutely loved & admired her just as much!
She was a devoted wife to her one true love Robert “Bobby” King for over 45 years before his passing in 2018. They lived a simple life in South Boston raising their children, enjoying many drinks & listening to music, especially the oldies. Although this line is cliché it is so true about our family… We may not have been rich in life back then, but we were certainly rich in LOVE and Mama Jo LOVED Her Family With Every Thing She Had!
She is predeceased in death by her parents Clarence “Mac” McQueen, Sarah “Eileen” Riley and her beloved husband Robert “Bobby” King of South Boston.
Devoted and loving mother to Kelly Fichtner & Steve Kane of Rockland; Katie/Jeanie Orsino & her husband Jamie of Stoneham; Robin Bleheen and her husband Mike of Holbrook; Robert King & his wife Robin (in-law) of Weymouth; James King & Jennaire Gauthier of Franklin; Kasey King of Belmont and the late Matthew King, EMT 1025 of South Boston.
She was the beloved Nana to Krystie Fichtner & Drew Rose, McKinley, Riley & William Fichtner; Tim & Shawn Kane; Alexandra & Dominic Orsino; Michaela Pound and her husband Billy; Stephen & Courtney Foley; Bobby & Michael Bleheen; Kason, Katherine, Kaeden, Colby, Tallan, Brody, & Brynley King; and Cullan Sarmiento.
She was the loving “GG” to Jack Foley; Carter & Callen Rose; and Avery, Emerson & Drew Pound.
She is also survived by her loving siblings Gayle Spencer, Maureen Beede; Stephen McQueen, Kevin McQueen, Brian McQueen and her sister in laws Marilyn McDonough, and Sue & Mary McQueen. Predeceased in death by her loving brother Wayne McQueen.
She was the loving godmother to Jordan Spencer and Kennith McQueen. Also lovingly survived by many caring Nieces, Nephews, and countless Cousins who she loved dearly.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours at the Casper Funeral Home 187 Dorchester St., South Boston Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM followed by a mass of Christian burial in Saint Monica's church, South Boston Wednesday at 10 AM interment Cedar Grove cemetery.