Joan E. (Lipsett) Hirst, 72, of Acushnet died Thursday December 23, 2010 at home. She was the wife of Leonard T.A. Hirst.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Alvin B. and Marietta (Johnson) Lipsett, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Acushnet 34 years ago.
She was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church.
Mrs. Hirst was formerly employed as an insurance broker for Almy Insurance Agency and Cooper Insurance Agency.
She enjoyed playing Bingo at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, visiting Newport Grand and Twin Rivers, and vacationing in Aruba.
Survivors include her husband; two children, Leonard T.A. Hirst II of Westport and Kelley E. Beless and her companion Michael O'Laughlin of Yarmouthport; her siblings, Mark D. Lipsett of Acushnet, Barbara Lipsett of New Bedford, and Alvin B. Lipsett, Jr. of Fall River; four grandchildren, Ian T.E. Hirst, Alex Beless, Sydney Beless, and Victoria T. Hirst; and nieces and nephews. She also leaves her special Bingo friends, Pat, Camille, Rose, Pat, Priscilla, and Lisa, her many slot friends, and her dogs, Lizzie and Sam.
She was predeceased by her siblings, Donald P. Lipsett and Janice Galligan, and her good friend, Father Terence F. Keenan.
Her family would like to extend special thanks to St. Luke's Hospital Crapo Ward for their excellent emergency care especially from Jessica, and to Southcoast Hospice, especially Ann and Jackie, for their care and compassion.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 AM at St. Francis Xavier Church, Acushnet. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Southcoast Hospice, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.