Joan Marie (Bartus) Kirejczyk
Grafton – We lost the love of my life and mother to our two great kids and their families Wednesday, May 17, 2017. She died peacefully at Beth Israel Hospital, surrounded by her loving family, Steve and Shelby, Katie and Sean, and her husband of 47 great years, Richard.
Her family was most important to her. She lived to be with them. She would do anything for her grandchildren, from baking their favorite cookies, to making special order birthday cakes. Most recently was a First Communion cake for Alex this past Sunday. She was looking forward to a special weekend to spoil Megan. She was so proud of Molly and was amazed that she was already graduating on to middle school. She looked so forward to her phone calls with Molly, finding out what was new in her life and how she was doing with her little brother, Carter. Her children and their spouses were right up there with the grandkids. She kept an eye on them and was always there whenever she was needed.
She enjoyed going out with the girls. She loved their “Girls Nights Out,” “Dinner and a Movie,” and looked so forward to getting together with them down on the Cape. She looked forward to any time in warmer weather, and was always eager to plan her next cruise. She was an avid reader, and loved playing “Words with Friends.” She loved the Cape, and would spend her summers there with her children when they were younger, with her grandchildren in recent years, and with her loving husband.
She worked for many years at Grafton High School, WPI, and Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC), retiring in 2012.
She was born (1950) and grew up in Northfield, graduating from Turners Falls High School. She and Richard were married in 1970, recently celebrating 47 wonderful years together.
She leaves behind her husband, Richard J. Kirejczyk of Grafton; her son Steven, his wife Shelby, and their two children, Alex and Megan, from Dudley; and her daughter Katie, her husband Sean, and two children, Molly and Carter, from East Northport, N.Y. She also leaves her brother, John Bartus and his wife Marylou from Templeton; her brother, Jim Bartus and his wife Dorothy from Turners Falls; and her brother, Joe Bartus and his wife Rusty from Attleboro.
Please honor Joan with a memorial donation to The American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231 or online at www.Heart.org.
All are welcome to gather with Joan’s family Monday, May 22, from 4-7 p.m., at Roney Funeral Home, 152 Worcester St., N. Grafton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated for Joan Tuesday, May 23, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church, 17 Waterville St., North Grafton. She will then be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield.
A Book of Memories to share a story, photo, or memory of Joan is available online at www.RoneyFuneralHome.com.
