Opal May (Howe) Ward was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, April 30, 1933. She was the eighth of nine children of Ernest Howe and Estella (Hudlin) Howe. She graduated from Fredericton High School. At the age of 21, she left Fredericton and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.
On her 22nd birthday, she met Larry H. Ward of Boston. On June 9, 1956, they were married in Fredericton. The couple resided initially in Boston and then in February 1962, moved to Stoughton, Massachusetts where they lived for 47 years. While living in Stoughton, they had one daughter, Valerie Lynn Ward. Opal was an active parent in the Stoughton Public School system, and donated much of her time to activities that enhanced Valerie’s education. Also, as a past member and Sunday school teacher at Messiah Baptist Church in Brockton, she instilled in Valerie the importance of religion.
Opal worked for the United States Government for 32 years, and during many of these years her office was located in the J.F.K. Federal Building in Boston. While working full time, she attended Suffolk University (Boston). She graduated from Suffolk in 1983 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Science. Opal’s quest for excellence in education resulted in her daughter Valerie graduating from Stoughton High School, Harvard University, Yale University School of Medicine and Harvard School of Public Health.
In 1994, Opal retired from the United States Federal Government as a Health Care Systems Analyst. In her retirement, Opal traveled extensively throughout the United States, and especially enjoyed her vacations in Paris and Hawaii and cruises in the Caribbean of which there were many. She also enjoyed gardening, walking, shopping and singing with the Stoughton Senior Serenaders.
Opal May (Howe) Ward leaves to mourn her passing: her husband Larry Ward, her daughter Valerie L. Ward, M.D., her son-in-law Lancelot R. King, her sisters Elma Reddick and June Carty of Fredericton, her brothers Ronald Howe and Carl Howe of Ontario, Canada, Eldon Howe of Fredericton, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be held from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt.27) Stoughton on Tuesday, February 10 at 12 Noon. Visiting Hours prior to service from 11 AM. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.