Marlborough – R. Joan George, 83, died Thursday, July 17, 2014 in Wellesley after a long illness. She was married for 50 years to the late William G. George, and was a resident of Marlborough for more than 40 years.
Born Rita Joan Shillinger in Bradford, Penn., she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Anna (Balon) Shillinger.
She leaves two sons, David M. George of Salem, N.H. and Paul G. George of Lexington; four daughters, Susan M. McNulty of Walpole, Diane M. Siroky of Newtown, Conn., Kristine E. Andres of Fairfield, Conn., and Kathleen A. Bonnist of Wilton, Conn.; and 14 grandchildren, Laura, Erin and Peter McNulty; Katherine, Mary and Jenna Siroky; Michael, Kyle and Katherine George; Teresa and Matteo Andres; and Erika, Julia and William Bonnist.
A 1951 graduate of the Sisters of Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Buffalo, N.Y., she spent 19 years with the Visiting Nurse Association of Marlborough and the Assabet Valley Home Health Association, including two years as the region's hospice nurse. She also served as a volunteer and on the board of directors for the Assabet Valley chapter of the American Cancer Society.
She was a longtime active member of Immaculate Conception parish of Marlborough, where she served as an extraordinary minister and religious education instructor. She also was a founding member of the parish's bereavement support group.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, July 24, at 9 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect St., Marlborough. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, July 23, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the Slattery Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough.
Memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Marlborough, 65 Boston Post Rd. W, Marlborough, MA 01752.
