Joan F. Underwood's Obituary
Joan Frances (Riley) Underwood, 88, of Lawrence, MA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 17, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Born in Lowell, MA on June 22, 1932, the daughter of the late, John and Katherine (McKenna) Riley, she was the youngest of eight children.
Joan was the beloved wife of the late Thomas Jefferson Underwood Jr. whom she married on April 16, 1955. They spent 13 loving years together before he passed away.
Joan graduated from Lowell High School in 1950 with honors and completed her studies at Saint John’s School of Nursing in Lowell, MA in 1953.
She began her career in nursing at St. John’s Medical Center in Lowell. She later worked at Lawrence General Hospital and retired from the City of Lawrence where she worked as a public health nurse and a school nurse for many years. After retiring from the city, Joan worked part time at Degnan Insurance in Lawrence into her eighties.
Joan cherished her time with her family more than anything. She enjoyed annual outings with the grandkids to Canobie, and her birthday celebrations at the beach each year. She was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Saint Patrick’s Parish, Lawrence.
During the COVID pandemic Joan was a resident of Prescott House in North Andover and developed close relationships with several of her caregivers. The family wishes to thank them for their love, care, and support. The family also thanks the staff at Lawrence General Hospital Emergency Room and H4 staff, as well as the staff at High Pointe House.
Joan is survived by her loving children, Claire Wood of Lawrence, MA, Thomas Underwood and his wife Vanessa of Plaistow, NH, Kathy Cuddy and her husband John of Dracut, MA, and Kevin Underwood and his wife Jill of Salisbury, MA, seven grandchildren: Melissa McKinnon, Lynn Wood, Caroline Reynolds, Sarah Millar, Katherine Sottung, Meredith Underwood, and Nathan Underwood, nine great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and loving husband, Joan was pre-deceased by her siblings, Dorothy, John and his wife Ruth, Muriel, Shirley and her husband Joseph Sorota, William and his wife Peggy, Gerald and his wife Teresa, Mary, and her brother in-law, William Underwood and his wife Jacqueline.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Saint Patrick’s Parish. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Waverly Rd., No. Andover. Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, 35 Merrimack St., North Andover, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cor Unum Meal Center, 118 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA 01843.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Funeral Home, Inc., 25 Merrimack St., North Andover, MA 01845. For more information or to send an online condolence please visit our website at: www.breenfuneralhome.com
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