North Andover, MA - Dorothy Joan McKeon (McKew) passed away peacefully, after a long illness, surrounded by her family on March 18, 2019.
She was born on January 22, 1929, to the late William and Dorothy Freeman of Valley Stream, New York. She is predeceased by her late husband John Anthony McKew and her late husband Harry F. McKeon; as well as her sister Nancy Russell; brothers Robert Freeman and William Freeman. She is also predeceased by her grandson Andrew Costa Jr.
Joan grew up in New Jersey and New York. She attended college in Florida and later married John McKew, November 1950. They had six children moving their family multiple times up and down the East Coast. After John's death in 1973, Joan began a long career at Raytheon Corporation in Andover. She worked as an assistant to the medical director retiring in 1994. In 1982, Joan wed Harry McKeon. They played golf, traveled, and spent time with friends and family until Harry's death in 2004.
Joan is survived by her children Nancy Costa and her husband Andrew of Windham, N.H.; Kathy McKew and her long-term partner Frank Kiely of Derry, N.H.; son John McKew of N.H.; son Brian McKew of Phoenix, Ariz.; son Gerard McKew and his wife Mare of Phoenix, Ariz., and Dorothy Puccia and her husband Philip of Andover, Mass. She is also survived by three step children, Thomas McKeon, Dr. Catherine O'Malley and her husband Michael of Tyngsboro and Mary McKeon. She also leaves a sister, Barbara Forrest of Largo, Fla. She leaves 16 grandchildren, Jenna Jordan and Trisha McKew of Salem, N.H.; Alexandra Puccia, Lillian Puccia and Madeline Puccia of Andover, Mass.; Barbara Robinson and Kevin Costa of Windham, N.H.; Jack McKew of Portland, Maine; Jimi Bean and Shelby Bean of Phoenix, Ariz.; Kerry Brown of Tampa, Fla.; Heather Erickson of Minn., and Alison Moore, S.C.; Mary Ellen O'Malley of Melrose, Mass.; William McKeon of S.C.; Ann-Marie McKeon of N.Y.
She also leaves 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; a host of friends and the very dedicated staff of Prescott House in North Andover.
A Mass of memorial will be held at St. Michaels Church, Main Street, North Andover, MA at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23. In lieu of flowers donations can be made on Joan's behalf to Parkinson's Foundation at https://parkinson.org/ways-to-give.