Northborough – Joan Cecelia (Flemming) Hennessey, 86, died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, surrounded by her loving family, at Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Northborough, where she had been a resident the past few years.
Born in Millville, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia., she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mae(O’Toole) Flemming; the wife of the late William J. Hennessey, who died in 1978; and the mother of the late William C. Hennessey, who died in 1984.
Joan worked as an LPN at Children's Hospital, New England Cooperative Center, New England Home for Little Wonderer's, various nursing homes, as well as private duty all in the Boston Area, ending her career with the former Braemoor Nursing Home in Marlborough.
She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church for over 50 years. She was devoted to the Blessed Mother and St. Anthony, praying the rosary daily, attending Mass when able.
She was very proud of her Irish and Cape Breton heritages. She instilled in her children a love of reading. She read five daily newspapers and always had a book nearby. Her passion included baking pies, black moons AKA whoopie pies, a multitude of cookies, her specialty was cut-out sugar cookies. If you walked up the driveway and peeked in her kitchen window chances are you would have seen her with her apron on standing at either the sink or oven, hearing the crackle of the Police & Fire scanner as she listened to “the boys” who kept her company. She also enjoyed knitting, and her specialty was afghans and doll clothes.
Joan's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the entire staff of Beaumont Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, Northborough, Salmon Hospice, Marlborough Hospital, Drs. Qureshi, Jose, and Nelson for the excellent care and comfort they gave to Joan over the years. A special thanks to the Thornton Neighborhood Team.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary B. Mario and her husband Robert of Marlborough; her son, Michael G. Hennessey and his wife Patricia of Seabrook, N.H.; her sister, Nora Hartman and her husband Frank of Marlborough; her nephews and nieces, Joseph Avery of WA, Maryann Banfield of Quincy, Peter Avery, Michael Avery and the late Frank Avery, all of Somerville, Lisa Hederstedt of Fitchburg, Kevin Murphy of Wareham, Christopher Murphy of Plymouth and the late Maureen Oliva of Quincy Maryann, Arthur, Vincent, Carol, Theresa, Cecelia, Carmel, Bernie, Jack, Rose Marie, Karen, Francie, Margie and Eva, all of Canada; and her best friend since childhood, Theresa McKenna Mac Neil of Cape Breton, N.S. She was the sister of the late Margaret Avery, Anne, William, and David Flemming, and the sister-in-law of the late Joan Hennessy, Joe Avery, and Mary and Arthur Murphy.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the Slattery Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant St,, Marlborough. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 18, at 9 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect St, Marlborough. She will be buried with her husband and son in St. Joseph's Cemetery, LaGrange Street, West Roxbury.
Donations may be made to Catholic TV, PO Box 9196, 34 Chestnut St., Watertown, MA 02471 or Beaumont Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, 238 West Main St., Northborough, MA 01532.
