Anne F. Joseph, 89, a longtime Whitman resident and former public school math and science teacher, died Jan. 17 at Colony House Nursing Home after an extended illness.
Mrs. Joseph taught public school in Whitman for 35 years before retiring in 1982. Her passion for developing her student’s latent talents in order to give them confidence led her to start teaching chess to troubled boys in her classroom and she eventually extended chess instruction to all her students.
She loved the town of Whitman and served for many years on the Conservation and Historic Commissions with great enthusiasm. She was also an active member of the Whitman Garden Club and a docent at the Arnold Arboretum. A longtime parishioner of Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Mrs. Joseph was well-known for her faith and devotion to the church.
Anne Frances Garvey was born in Easton, Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1940 and later received her Masters degree from that same institution.
Her husband, Edward C. Joseph, Jr. died in 1961. She is survived by her three children, Cheryl, Brian, and Kevin Joseph; and five grandchildren, Cecily, Jeremy, Jillian, Teddy and Xavier.
Friends and former students are invited to attend the viewing at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Route 58 at the Rotary) Whitman on Friday, Jan. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. Her funeral services will be held at 9:15 AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel followed by a mass in the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Whitman on Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Whitman Conservation Commission, 54 South Ave Whitman, MA 02382 or to the Alzheimer's Association 311 Arsenal Street Watertown, MA 02472.