Joan A. (Kavanagh) Boyden, of Medford and formerly of Somerville and Charlestown, died on Monday, September 24, 2007, at her home in Medford after a very courageous battle with cancer. She was 62 years old.
Joan was born in Boston on December 17, 1944. She grew up in Charlestown, where she attended St. Francis De Sales and St. Catherine's Parochial Schools. Joan graduated from Charlestown High School in 1962.. She worked for several years at Rothstein Brothers Trucking Company on Rutherford Avenue in Charlestown as a secretary and dispatcher. Joan began working as an operator for New England Telephone Company in Boston and worked there for more than 30 years while achieving several promotions. She retired as a supervisor in January of 2003.
Joan is the devoted twin sister of Boston Fire Dept. Lt. Robert "Bobby" Kavanagh and his wife Janice of Brockton. Joan is the loving sister of retired Boston Fire Dept. Capt. Edward Kavanagh and his wife Annette of Charlestown, Mary Carr and her husband Philip of Charlestown, Eileen Jones and her late husband Robert of Medford, Dorothy Gennaco and her husband Joseph of Winthrop and the late Kathleen Kavanagh. Joan was the beloved daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Carberry) Kavanagh of Charlestown and both formerly of County Waterford, Ireland. Joan is the beloved wife of Willian C. Boyden. She is the mother of Kimberly Briones and her husband David of Medford and William C. Boyden, Jr., and his wife Bea of Townsend. She is the Nana to Caitlin, Justin, Catherine Joan, Collin, Aislin, Elisabeth and Riley. Joan is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Joan's Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, September 29, 2007, at 10 a.m. in St. Clements Church, Medford.
Memorial donations maybe made in Joan's name to Visiting Nurse of Middlesex-East and Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.