Joanne R. (Crotty) Burgess, 75 of Danvers, passed away suddenly at the Massachusetts General Hospital on July 14, 2015. She was the wife of 54 years of Leonard P. Burgess. Born in Salem, she was the daughter o the late John F. and Lauretta J. (Tardiff) Crotty. Joanne graduated from St. James High School in Salem and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.
Joanne was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Girls Drill Team of Salem and was also quite active in various other CYO activities. While in college, Joanne worked part time in research laboratories at Harvard Medical School in Boston. In addition to her work at home raising four children, Joanne dedicated many years in the development of specialized individual reading and motor skills programs for those with disabilities and special needs. She also worked as a teacher in the Boston School System and at the Landmark School in Prides Crossing, Beverly. Joanne put her family and friends above all and cherished and lavished lots of love and attention on her 5 grandchildren. She enjoyed literature and art and loved to paint. She enjoyed boating as a member of the Danversport Yacht Club and loved the beach and traveling to Florida and Cape Cod. Joanne had a strong faith life and was a devout Catholic. She traveled twice to Medjugorje in Bosnia on Pilgrimage.
In addition to her husband, Joanne is survived by her brother John T. Crotty of Beverly and brother and sister-in-law, James M. and Cheryl Crotty of Hamilton, A son Daniel L. Burgess and his former wife Pamela of Swampscott a son, James E. Burgess of Northbridge, a son John Paul Burgess of Pembroke, and a son Thomas P. Burgess and his wife Christine of Merrimac, five grandchildren, Gabrielle, Brent, Nathaniel, Hannah and Matthew Burgess. She is also survived by her niece Jenna (Crotty) Barton and nephew Christopher Crotty.
Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Friday, July 17, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Route 114 / 1-A] Salem. Her funeral mass will be on Monday, July 20th at the Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10:00 A.M. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cardinal Cushing Centers, Inc, 405 Washington St., Hanover, MA 02339. For guestbook and additional information, please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com