Joan Frances Nelson of Roslindale passed away at age 67 on April 22, 2025 after a short and sudden illness. Joni was a lifelong Bostonian, living in Jamaica Plain until her family moved to Roslindale in 1965 which was her primary residence until her passing. She was a devoted daughter to her father Richard from whom she got her personality and sense of humor, and her mother Jacquetta who gave her character and grace. She was the trouble making baby sister to her brother Kenny and sister Charlotte.
Most of her life, Joni made her living driving a school bus for Boston's school students. She especially loved driving for the children with learning or behavioral problems. Joni was a longtime Union steward for United Steelworkers Local 8751 – Boston School Bus Drivers Union fighting for better contracts and defending the fair treatment of her fellow drivers.
To her nieces and nephews, their children, and their many friends, who were always around the house, she was simply known as “Aunt Joan”. Never having children of her own, she loved and ferociously defended them as her own, always trying to mold them into the best persons they could be.
But Joni's real passion was her love of all animals, especially cats. Starting at a young age she took in every stray cat in the neighborhood despite her father's protests. She started feeding homeless cats while driving her school bus through the city, and trapping them at night to spay or neuter them in hopes of controlling the overpopulation crisis. She became known on the streets as “The Catlady”. Eventually she started recruiting others who also cared for these cats that would come to be known as “The Feral Cat Warriors” which evolved into the non-profit cat rescue named Boston's Forgotten Felines. BFF has become a true rescue organization continuing to feed, trap, and provide expensive medical care so these abandoned cats can be adopted out to loving, forever homes saving them from a harsh life on the cold streets.
Joni was an original. There was no one quite like her. She loved cats, red wine, Marlboro's and Keno. Joni was many things, but most of all she was our friend.
Visiting hours will be held at the P.E. Murray-F.J. Higgins George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St, West Roxbury on Thursday, May 1 from 5:00-8:00pm. A graveside service will be held at The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery, 670 Baker St, West Roxbury on Friday, May 2 at 11:30am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.
Donations can be sent to Boston's Forgotten Felines, 21 Montvale St, Roslindale, MA 02131.