Obituary for Joan Ruth Anderson (Monaghan)
Joan Ruth (Monaghan) Anderson - Devoted mother, Nana, and Great-Nana, Joan was a devout Catholic, and gracious hostess to all who visited the family lake house in Westford.
Joan was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 30, 1932, daughter of Harold and Lillian (Quigley) Monaghan.
After graduating from Keith Hall, Joan worked as a bookkeeper for various employers, including the Educator Biscuit company, Fort Devens, and Saints Memorial hospital. She leaned heavily on her organizational skills as she worked tirelessly to raise her children, Kathy, Tommy, Jimmy, Debbie, and Billy.
She was adventurous, well-travelled, and even a reluctant water skier. She enjoyed cultivating roses and crocheting more than 100 blankets, which she donated to comfort premature babies.
Joan pined to be reunited with Bill, her lifelong sweetheart of more than 62 years, who passed in 2017. While Bill guided the family with an engineer's logic, Joan ruled a home filled with warmth, kindness and love. She was most comfortable when she had the house teeming with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Fulfilling her final wishes, Joan died peacefully in her sleep, in her family home, surrounded by love and cared for by her children. We were blessed to have her; she created a lasting legacy of love.
Joan is survived by her children, Kathleen M. Brooker, and her husband David of Tyngsboro; Thomas W. Anderson of Malibu, CA; James E. Anderson of Ayer; Debra A. Nelson and her husband David of Knox, NY; and William E. Anderson, Jr. and his wife Ludmila of Manchester, NH; sister Carol Donaruma of Westford and her brother-in-law, Donald Anderson of Dracut. She is further survived by 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4 pm to 7 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. You are kindly invited to view her Mass of Christian Burial live on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 11 am. Please visit chelmsfordcatholic.org and click LIVEVIEW, St. Mary LIVEVIEW at the time of her service. https://chelmsfordcatholic.org/watch-via-livestream
For those who desire, memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to Smile Train, P. O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090 https://donate.smiletrain.org/a>
or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/
Joan was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 30, 1932, daughter of Harold and Lillian (Quigley) Monaghan.
After graduating from Keith Hall, Joan worked as a bookkeeper for various employers, including the Educator Biscuit company, Fort Devens, and Saints Memorial hospital. She leaned heavily on her organizational skills as she worked tirelessly to raise her children, Kathy, Tommy, Jimmy, Debbie, and Billy.
She was adventurous, well-travelled, and even a reluctant water skier. She enjoyed cultivating roses and crocheting more than 100 blankets, which she donated to comfort premature babies.
Joan pined to be reunited with Bill, her lifelong sweetheart of more than 62 years, who passed in 2017. While Bill guided the family with an engineer's logic, Joan ruled a home filled with warmth, kindness and love. She was most comfortable when she had the house teeming with her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Fulfilling her final wishes, Joan died peacefully in her sleep, in her family home, surrounded by love and cared for by her children. We were blessed to have her; she created a lasting legacy of love.
Joan is survived by her children, Kathleen M. Brooker, and her husband David of Tyngsboro; Thomas W. Anderson of Malibu, CA; James E. Anderson of Ayer; Debra A. Nelson and her husband David of Knox, NY; and William E. Anderson, Jr. and his wife Ludmila of Manchester, NH; sister Carol Donaruma of Westford and her brother-in-law, Donald Anderson of Dracut. She is further survived by 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4 pm to 7 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately. You are kindly invited to view her Mass of Christian Burial live on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 11 am. Please visit chelmsfordcatholic.org and click LIVEVIEW, St. Mary LIVEVIEW at the time of her service. https://chelmsfordcatholic.org/watch-via-livestream
For those who desire, memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to Smile Train, P. O. Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090 https://donate.smiletrain.org/a>
or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/