Joan McDonald
NORTH ATTLEBORO - On July 7th at 4:30 PM, Joan Denise McDonald passed away peacefully and gracefully at Beth Israel in Boston at the age of 65. Her eleven-year struggle saw her fight cancer twice, a-fib, COPD, heart failure, and pneumonia. She fought valiantly, and through it all she was happy, charming, and witty; most people have said “she is a great woman”.
Joan always volunteered at Community School where her children, Rory and Ian, attended. After making a good impression on her managers and colleagues, she became a traveling librarian for the five elementary schools in North. After that, she became a teaching assistant for kindergarten classes and continued her work in the library where she loved to be. Joan worked nearly 20 years for the North Attleboro school system and was loved by her coworkers. Her laugh, wit, and knack for finding humor in unlikely places will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her best friend Patrick McDonald, husband of 36 years, and loving children, Rory and Ian, as well as her nieces, nephews, in-laws, and especially her cats, Malcolm and Ella. She is being waked at Sperry McHoul funeral home at 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro on July 16th from 3PM to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a small donation to the family to cover the expenses of honoring Joan. Send to Patrick McDonald at 211 Pine Street, number 3, Attleboro, MA 02703.