BEVERLY: Joan F. (Fitzpatrick) Horgan, 76, died Monday, August 8, 2011 at her home following a long battle with lung cancer. She was the wife of the late Francis Horgan and her first husband, the late Robert A. Watts, Sr.
Born in Boston on January 2, 1935, she was the daughter of the late John and Rose (Frappier) Fitzpatrick. She was a graduate of Beverly High School class of 1952 and the former Burdett Business School. She has resided in Beverly for the past sixty-seven years.
Joan was employed for many years as an administrative assistant at the Beverly Public Library, where she was influential in enhancing the spiritual department. A longtime communicant of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, she was a member of their Folk Group, Prayer Group and was a leader in the R.C.I.A. Program. She was also active as a Girl Scout leader and was a member of the Spar & Spindle Girl Scout Council.
She is survived by her seven children, Robert and his wife, Gail Watts of Andover, Karen Cloonen of Concord, NH, Sharon and her husband, Mark Fish of Rowley, Susan and her husband, James Gilday of Mt. Ulla, NC, James Watts of Saugus, John and his wife, Frances Watts of Panama City, FL and Christopher Watts of Salisbury; two sisters, Ann Boyle of Beverly and Elizabeth and her husband, Alan Pool of Rockport; eighteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear and faithful friends. She was also predeceased by her sister, Margery Rush.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 253 Cabot St., Beverly at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St., Beverly, MA 01915.