Joan (Houlihan) O’Neill, 80, of Wellesley, and Duxbury, MA, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2008 after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul B. O’Neill. She was the devoted mother of Michael O’Neill and his wife Jane of Hamilton, MA, Patrick O’Neill of Miami, FL, Anne Fisher and her husband Jeffrey of Newport, RI, Mary Hanna and her husband Scott of Ipswich, MA and Anthony O’Neill of Bridgewater, MA. She also leaves 9 grandchildren. Sister of the late Frank Houlihan of Ft. Wayne, IN.
Joan was born in 1927, in Ft. Wayne, IN to parents Thomas A. and Elma (Kintz) Houlihan. She graduated from North Side High School in 1945 and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1949. A longtime resident of Wellesley and Duxbury, MA, Joan was a member of the Wellesley College (art) docent program. She gave tours and gallery talks for over 25 years on both permanent and traveling exhibits in the Jewett Arts Center Museum and later the Davis Museum. She also introduced public school children to art history through Jewett’s Elementary School sculpture program, bringing pieces of art into the classroom in order to expose students to the background of art, artists and their works. She was active in church charity work for most of her life. Her wit, wisdom and spirit will be dearly missed.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellesley, MA, Thursday, April 3, at 8 AM. Funeral mass in St. Paul’s Church, 502 Washington St., Wellesley, MA, at 9 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Wednesday, April 2, from 5-8 PM. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joan’s memory to a charity of your choice.