1928 - 2020
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
Funeral
September 8, 202011:00 am
St. John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St. N. Chelmsford
Joan M. Roy of Westford passed away on September 2, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert P. Roy, Sr. who died April 6, 1991, and the daughter of the late John J. and Marion L. (Smith) McLaughlin of Woburn.
She was educated in the Woburn public schools and UMass Amherst where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition with the Class of 1950. She completed a Dietetic Internship at Mt. Auburn Hospital, Cambridge.
She worked as a Registered Dietitian at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Bedford, the VA Outpatient Clinic in Lowell, the Tewksbury Hospital School of Practical Nursing, Rivercrest-Deaconess Long Term Care facility in Concord, and Nashoba Nursing Service in Harvard.
For over 50 years she was a volunteer at her parish, St. John the Evangelist in North Chelmsford, where she served on the Altar Guild, the Parish Council, and the Hospitality Committee.
After retiring from dietetics she volunteered at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, and in her condo community, the Village at Stone Ridge, Westford. Additionally, she was employed part-time in the Building Department at Town Hall, Westford. She always enjoyed working, but particularly loved the camaraderie of the workplace.
Her interests, in addition to family and friends, included bridge, books, traveling, the musical theatre, and Road Scholar/Elderhostel – participating in many such programs.
Joan was an enthusiastic and great cook. She frequently participated in cooking competitions, winning several prizes. Her friends and family loved her dinners.
Joan’s greatest gift, and the essence of her character, was to make everyone she met feel important. She took interest in everyone, always expressing her excitement for their accomplishments. Joan was always giving her time and energy to make our lives better. She was many things to many people – Joan, Mom, Nana – and above all else, a friend to all.
She is survived by her five children and their spouses; Robert P. Jr. and Denise (Perkins) Roy of Georgetown, Capt. Joseph J.(ret. Westford PD) and Mary (Byrne) Roy, of Westford, James E. and Geraldine (LeBlanc) Roy of Stonington, CT, Michele (Roy) and Richard Curtis of Westford, and Mary-Ann (Roy) and Jeff McCue of Kingston, MA. She also leaves a sister-in -law, Rita and her husband “Doc” Michaels of Nashua, NH.
She leaves twelve grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, among them, Susan and Robert Nelson of Hampton, NH, and artist Richard Marion of Lowell.
She was pre-deceased by her siblings, Dr. Laurence S. McLaughlin, Marion L. McLaughlin, and M. Pauline McLaughlin, all of Woburn.
Her visitation was private on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Evangelist Church in N. Chelmsford, MA. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorials may be made in her name to St. John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St., N. Chelmsford, MA 01863. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Ed Rochon
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Joe and family,
Sorry for the loss of your Mom. I remember her fondly and pleasant to talk with. Hold on to all those wonderful memories.
Ed Rochon
Rob LeFave
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I worked with Mrs. Roy in the late ‘80’s, and learned a lot from her. My deepest condolences to her family
Tina Lisien
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I m just reading of our dear friend, Joan Roy s death!?!??What a wonderful woman friend and ‘ mentor’ in Faith! I m sooo sad?I m soo sorry for the family of such a vibrant, loving woman. As her ‘ heartfelt’ obituary pointed out, she had a ‘ smile and an open ear to all’ Her bubbly personality and intelligence inspired me along w/ her ‘ fierce independence’ even as I sometimes took her to Drs. At Lahey.
I m just so sorry for her loss. Our church community at St. John s was blessed by her; May she ‘ Rest In Peace. Love condolences and prayers, Tina Lisien
Steven Jong
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We are saddened to hear of the loss of your mother. She was a wonderful woman who raised a fine family, contributed to the community, and uplifted everyone around her for many years.
david marion
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Joan was the kind of person who everyone would want for a relative and a friend: she was bright, gentle, generous, compassionate, and much more. She enriched the lives of people, and not accidentally but intentionally–she left us an exacting model of good friendship. I am sorry that our lives intersected so little over the last 50 years.