Joan M. MacArthur
St. William's Church Parishioner
TEWKSBURY: Joan M. (Kelley) MacArthur, age 83, a resident of Tewksbury for 56 years, formerly of Malden, passed away at home, with her family by her side, on Saturday, April 5, 2014.
She was the beloved wife of Nelson P. MacArthur, who passed away on February 17, 1990.
Born in Stoneham on December 9, 1930, she was the daughter of the late John E. Kelley and the late Marion (Douglas) Kelley.
Joan was raised in Malden, attended Malden schools and graduated from Malden High School.
Following high school and prior to her marriage, she worked in the Insurance Industry.
After raising her four daughters, Joan went on to work for the Town of Tewksbury in the School Lunch Program and later as a Teachers Aid for the Wang Corporation Day Care Program.
Joan was a communicant and supporter of St. William's Parish, and was a former member of the Ladies Sodality. In addition, she performed numerous hours of community service with the Habitat For Humanity Organization and the Lowell Food Pantry.
She enjoyed traveling, especially to Italy, Germany and Switzerland, taking day trips to Foxwoods Resort and Casino, and in later years was an avid bowler.
She is survived by four daughters, Karen A. Goguen and her husband Douglas of Lowell, Donna M. Hayward and her husband Bob of San Marcos, CA, Brenda M. Waite and her husband John of Tewksbury, who along with their children, Katelyn, Courtney, and Colleen, attended to Joan's daily care and needs during her illness, and Joan M. "Boukie" Sullivan of Lowell; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Kelley and his wife Mary Jo of Derry, NH and Kevin Kelley and his wife Celeste of Las Vegas, NV; one sister, Marion "Kathy" Thibodeau of Las Vegas, NV; also many nieces and nephews.
Joan was the sister of the late Claire Callanan, Douglas and David Kelley all formerly of Malden, and the mother-in-law of the late Edward P. Sullivan, formerly of Tewksbury.
Calling hours Wednesday, April 9, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral will be held Thursday, April 10, at 9 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. William's Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis TN 38108 or to Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01843.