WEST BOYLSTON - Joan Marie (Doyle) Dion passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Oakdale Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Joan was born in Worcester, the daughter of the late Daniel F. and Mary F. (Doyle) Doyle. She attended Worcester public schools, graduating with honors from Commerce High School where she was a Horace Mann scholar, class officer, and Valedictorian of her class. Joan loved learning and continued to take courses at Quinsigamond Community College and at the Worcester Institute for Community Education (WISE) program until she was in her 70’s. After her high school graduation Joan worked for several years at the former State Mutual Life Assurance Company of America, returning to Hanover Insurance on a part time basis many years later.
Joan moved from Worcester to West Boylston in 1965 and became very active in her community. She served as President of the West Boylston PTA and of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Women’s Club, was a founding officer of the Friends of the Beaman Memorial Public Library, and was an officer of the West Boylston Women’s Club and the Notre Dame Academy Mothers’ Guild. Joan loved spending summers at her vacation home on Cape Cod, as well as reading, cooking, and traveling to new places. Above all she loved spending time with her family and her wide circle of friends.
Joan leaves her beloved husband Francis of West Boylston, to whom she was married for 58 years, her daughter, Lisa Akerson and her husband, Michael of Sterling; her grandchildren, Caroline, Michael, and Will Akerson of Sterling; her brother, Daniel Doyle and his wife, Louise of East Dennis. Her sister, Mary Doyle of Shrewsbury, predeceased her.
A calling hour will be held on Thursday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m.to 10:15 a.m. at Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 1 West Boylston Street, West Boylston. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton Street, Jefferson. Burial in St. John’s Cemetery in Worcester will be private.